Professor Claudia Rawn always put students first in every decision she made while serving as director of the Center for Materials Processing (CMP). Rawn’s commitment to every student’s growth is among her lasting legacies in the role.
After more than a decade as the CMP director, Rawn recently stepped down to become the deputy director and director of education, community, outreach, and recruitment of the Materials Research Science Engineering Center (MRSEC) at the University of Tennessee.
“Her guiding light was a commitment to involving students, particularly undergraduates, in theactivities of the CMP,” said Bill Dunne, associate dean & professor, research & facilities for the Tickle College of Engineering. “Claudia introduced programs that supported recruiting activities for undergrads, supported professional presentations, and featured them in the outcomes of the center. She always cared about students. At a university, that’s a super cool thing to have.”
Rawn was named associate director of the CMP in January of 2012 and promoted to director in July of 2012. She succeeded Carl McHargue, who became director after a distinguished career at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).
“I knew and respected Carl quite a bit. This was his baby, and he was very particular about who he would find to replace him,” said Rawn, who was a joint faculty between ORNL and UT before transitioning to UT full time in 2014. “I really appreciate Carl for his belief in me. I know it was very hard for him to turn it over. But his faith in me made me think I could do it.”
Positioning CMP for Success
Rawn is credited with her organizational skills and attention to detail. She helped cut administrative costs for the CMP to enable more funds to be spent directly on the center’s activities.
Rawn did her best to make sure CMP was well represented. She upgraded the quality of the annual report required for a Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) Center of Excellence. The report caught the attention of Stacey Patterson, the former vice president of research for the UT System.
“Stacey was so impressed with this report that it got distributed to all the other THEC centers across the UT System, which then got their act together,” Dunne said. “Claudia got people to up their game on improving their communication to the UT System and THEC about what they were doing.”
Rawn created a poster competition for students to showcase their work on the cover of the annual report. She included other photos from students on the cover and inside the issue. Rawn also helped find a way for the CMP to pay the first year of dues for students to join the Materials Advantage Student Society.
“She was very successful in maximizing the impact of CMP funding on students because of all the programs and activities she implemented,” said Andy Sarles, the associate director of industrial relations for the CMP. “The purpose of the THEC funding that’s provided to CMP is to support research and education and materials processing, and I know that Claudia was a very good steward of that responsibility.”
Passing the Torch
Not only did Rawn help advance the CMP strategically, but she also helped move the office location from East Stadium Hall to its current location in Ferris Hall. Rawn spent many hours cleaning out closets and sorting through old records. She donated some of the items to a public school in Atlanta where the daughter of CEE Professor Richard Bennett taught.
“They were on a shoestring budget, and she was so happy to get all of that for her students,” Rawn said. “Every time Dick sees me, he’ll still tell me about his daughter’s career and how she’s doing.”
Once her new opportunity at MRSEC emerged, Rawn was ready to pass the torch to new CMP Director Philip Rack. She felt she was leaving CMP in a strong position to build for the future and is confident the center’s student-focused mission will endure.
“It was very hard to step away from that role, but I knew it was time,” Rawn said. “I think after 10 years you’re not adding a lot of fresh ideas, and you really need somebody else to come in with their ideas.”
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey (865-974-0683, rpotkey@utk.edu)