The first round of forums to determine the next UT chancellor wrapped up Wednesday afternoon, and Jennie C. Hunter-Cevera said she was very impressed with what she saw at the University of Tennessee in her two days here.

"This definitely is a university with so much potential, so many great things," Cevera said to a crowd of UT staff, faculty and students. "The students are the greatest champions of this university."

Cevera, the current president of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, brings a strong scientific background to UT, which is known for its partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

But she didn't start her college career as a biology major at West Virginia University. She changed her major six times, she said. Cevera believes college is a great place for students to find out who they really are.

Cevera is a firm believer in the growing science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. Several schools already have STEM-related programs, and Cevera is in favor of more STEM programs at Tennessee.

If you can't get excited when you come to work at this campus everyday, then you don't belong here-Jennie C. Hunter-Cevera, candidate for UT chancellorship 

If Cevera becomes chancellor at UT she would want to work closely with President John Petersen, she said.

"The system is here to advance all the campus's agenda, but there has to be a dialogue," she said.

On UT working toward Association of American Universities status, Cevera said she supports following the metrics involved but emphasized that while rankings are important, so is the quality of education.

On alternative and renewable energies, Cevera said she can bring some new ideas, like recycled energy from animal waste and electricity from microbes, with her from Maryland, where electricity rates have doubled lately.

Cevera was also impressed by UT's commitment to campus safety. She noted Virginia Tech's consulting UT in regards to preventing violent acts like their campus shooting in 2007, and she appreciated UT's fair system of addressing student issues.

"The last thing we want to do to students is to let them think the system has let them down," she said.

Cevera said it was a great opportunity to visit the campus and that she is eager to be a part of UT's future.

"If you can't get excited when you come to work at this campus everyday, then you don't belong here," she said.