Kevin A garland
Technology/Operations Leader, Poet/Author, Photographer
"Let us have love and more love; a love that melts all opposition, a love that conquers all foes, a love that sweeps away all barriers, a love that aboundeth in charity, a large-heartedness, tolerance, forgiveness and noble striving, a love that triumphs over all obstacles." – Abdul Baha, "I Heard Him Say"
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." – Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Live long and prosper." – Spock, Star Trek
"May the Force be with you...always." – Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." – Gandalf, Lord of the Rings
The Eight Lives of Norman Chatter
a Novel
Beginnings have to start with something. If you had nothing, then what would you build upon? Even the universe started with everything already together, albeit squashed together into the tiniest of pinpricks, but everything was already there, confined in a tiny, compact singularity. So, what would ‘nothing’ look like? ‘Nothing’ is a dark void, bathed in thick darkness, without form or light. ‘Nothing’ is so vast and so empty that any rational being looking into the starless abyss could only weep for something more; something to fill the cold, hard, blackness; something to take up that bleak, empty space; something, anything, to give even the briefest hope for a tomorrow.
*****
Norman's eyes opened with a bang. His body shuddered as if waking from a frightful dream. A dream of falling, falling blindly through the air. He blinked his eyes but the blackness that enveloped him seeped in, filling his pupils with a thick, heavy darkness. He flayed his arms about, seeking for something to touch, something to feel, something to make his predicament real, but there was nothing, just…nothing. He was adrift in a vast sea of emptiness. The darkness stretched out endlessly, like the sand dunes of an infinite desert, without rock, tree, or any other markings to break up its monotony. It was an expanse of nothingness, a singular void, a black hole swallowing up all light and life. The air itself was completely still as well, bereft of any scents or odors. But not quite, Norman thought, it did carry a strange clean scent, as if all remnants of life had been wiped away with a sterile cloth. Norman's tongue tingled with a strange metallic taste, as if the concept of nothingness could be tasted. It was sharp and bitter on his palate, leaving an unsettled feeling in his mouth. He shook his head, trying to short-circuit his brain in an effort to recall how he had come to be in such a place; but his mind was almost as empty as the space around him, a bit more like a thick fog, however. Clouded and blurred. He strained to think, tried to spark the matter between his ears, but his memories were all fractured, and fuzzy. On good days Norman was faithful, dependable, and predictable; his soft voice was always calm and relaxed. He was a true friend and loyal companion, almost to a fault; but this was not a good day, and death comes to even the noblest of creatures; and in the moment, Norman reacted like any other normal, average, rational being would, he wept.

about me
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" - Nelson Mandela
"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled" - Plutarch
"Education is the key that unlocks the golden door to freedom" - George Washington Carver
"The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet" - Aristotle
Hello...
I’m compassionate about education, which is why I have four degrees, and why I’ve stayed at the University for over 25 years now. I’m currently a technology and operations leader at Facilities, where I consistently align innovation with departmental goals. In my role I’ve built a legacy rooted in transformational leadership, strategic foresight, and a dedicated commitment to efficiency and continual improvement.
I started my career in systems and
database applications, where I built and scaled foundational technologies
across different networks and platforms. From developing a fully-fledged CMMS
in the late 90’s to integrating enterprise solutions like SAP, SCADA, and GIS
systems, I have always sought to blend the technical with a bigger-picture
strategy.
I believe what sets my leadership apart from others is my focus on building people as well as systems. I’ve established and led the creation of new organizational units at Facilities—the Training & Professional Development unit, our Energy Management office, Communications & PR, and most recently our revamped call center which I’m combining with our new work order expediting group. I’ve also mentored over a dozen professionals into higher-impacting roles. My leadership in succession planning, team restructuring, and professional development has directly shaped a culture of growth, inclusion, and accountability at Facilities.
Strategically, I’ve led enterprise-wide transformations, including:
- Migrating Archibus (IWMS) to Oracle (Cloud SCM)
- Developing campus-wide systems like:
- Chemical Inventory,
- Event Solicitation,
- and Key management
- Also modernizing our legacy CMMS systems into comprehensive IWMS framework (Archibus)
- And I even drove sustainability initiatives that placed UT at the national forefront for green energy procurement
Operationally, I’m committed to continuous improvement. Whether that’s reducing work order turnaround times or streamlining document management and workflows, I leverage analytics, feedback loops, and process audits to optimize performance. My track record includes maintaining budgetary discipline for over a decade and consistently delivering measurable improvements in service delivery.
My IT degrees came from Purdue. I hold an English degree as well as my MBA from UTK, so I’m an alumni as well as a fan. I have a background that spans programming, engineering, business analytics, English literature, and leadership development, so I do bring a broad cross-disciplinary perspective that balances operational rigor with creative problem-solving.
Outside of work, I do what community service that I can, mentoring youth through Boy Scouts and coaching at Parks & Rec. I try giving back through Habitat for Humanity and Blount County’s Senior Outreach program. I often unwind on weekends through hiking, writing, and nature photography. In everything I do, though, my goal is to build solid systems and teams that will outlast myself—something that’s resilient, forward-thinking, and deeply aligned with the mission of continued education.