The Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, recently announced Dr. Sharon Jean-Philippe as the incoming Faculty Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (OURF) within the Division of Student Success. 

Dr. Sharon Jean-Philippe

In her new role, Dr. Jean-Philippe will work with the OURF Director and OURF staff to foster a campus culture where undergraduate research is a deeply engaging experience that is accessible to all students. 

Dr. Jean-Philippe comes to this role as a highly accomplished professor in the UT School of Natural Resources, with expertise in forest dynamics, experiential learning, and the recruitment and retention of urban youth in agriculture. As a dual degree earner from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she brings extensive experience and knowledge to her new position. 

Under Dr. Jean-Philippe’s leadership, OURF will continue to provide students with unparalleled opportunities to engage in research that enhances their education and prepares them for successful careers.  

She has been actively involved in mentoring undergraduate and graduate students throughout her academic career, including talks on academic preparation, co-op opportunities, internships for students, and how to engage diverse student bodies. 

“Sharon has hard shoes to fill, but I am confident she will continue and extend the extraordinary work in undergraduate research at UT. Her expertise is perfect for our strategic direction on Vol Edge and opening opportunities for undergraduate research for all students” said Dr. Pat Akos, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success. 

Dr. Jean-Philippe has made significant contributions to community engagement through urban forestry while her research work, such as the Community Riparian Restoration Project, has helped to restore and improve the environment in East Tennessee communities. 

Dr. Jean-Philippe’s research portfolio is equally impressive and has been recognized by the Society of American Foresters Conference, the Tennessee Urban Forestry Conference, the Open Journal of Forestry, and the American Journal of Plant Science.  

Moreover, her research grants have received funding from such prestigious organizations as the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

“I couldn’t be more excited about Dr. Jean-Philippe in this position,” said outgoing OURF Faculty Director Dr. Erin Darby. “In her faculty role, I have found her a committed partner, collaborator, and leader in undergraduate research, as is clearly visible in both her stellar research record and her deep commitment to student mentorship. Sharon’s leadership in OURF will build upon the office’s strong record of success to take our undergraduate research programs to the next level.”
 

“Sharon has long been a stalwart advocate for undergraduate research experiences as a faculty member,” said Laura De Furio, acting director for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships. “In her urban forestry research group, her innovative community partnerships and student-first mindset have demonstrated how research opportunities can provide truly transformative experiences to undergraduates at UT. We are thrilled to welcome her to OURF’s leadership team.” 

https://faculty.utk.edu/Sharon.Jean-Philippe 

Michael Camponovo has been recognized for this work with electromagnetic radiation, but it’s his work as director of UT’s GIS Outreach & Engagement Laboratory that has earned him the recognition of Campus Career Champion by the Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration. As director, Camponovo fosters interest and excitement about GIS and geospatial technologies while encouraging Vols to pursue a career in geography. 

As a partner with the CCDAE, Camponovo plans the Geography Career Mingle each fall and utilizes alumni connections and his professional network to find employer partners willing to discuss their career with students to highlight the variety of career options in the industry. He researches and utilizes connections to find internships/jobs for students and shares them via email and a Microsoft Teams channel that he created for students. 

Alexis Andershock, the CCDAE’s senior career coach who nominated Camponovo, said his willingness and desire to help students is inspiring. “He is a creative colleague that is always looking to improve career success for his students and ensuring every sub-industry of geography is included in the career mingle,” Andershock said. “I value our partnership and am honored to call him a colleague and friend.” 

On the academic side, Camponovo coordinates the employer partners and projects for the GIS in the Community course (GEOG 420) creating real-world examples for students to apply their geography knowledge and get experience in the industry. He teaches Practicing Geography (GEOG 499), which is a career course that outlines how students can turn their degree into a career and prepares them for that process through resume and interview activities, doing so only after collaborating with the CCDAE to ensure the course outline and assignments matched their philosophy. In addition, during teaching, he utilizes “You Majored in What?” by Katharine Brooks, which is used in the career course taught by the CCDAE.  

Camponovo is the second member of the Volunteer community to be recognized as a Campus Career Champion. Lisa Parker, a distinguished lecturer of Hispanic Studies and director of the Language and World Business Program in the College of Arts & Sciences, was the first in November 2021. Campus Career Champions exemplify UT’s Strategic Vision, specifically Goal One of Cultivating the Volunteer Experience, by promoting career readiness in and outside the classroom. 

The Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EURēCA), led by Undergraduate Research & Fellowships in the Division of Student Success, took place on April 25, 2023.

This year’s event was hosted in UT’s Student Union with 1,179 students showing 868 projects from a wide range of disciplines and methodologies. On May 4 during a closing awards ceremony, participating colleges presented a total of 161 awards for excellence in undergraduate research and creative achievement. Nine colleges and the Baker Center for Public Policy were represented with students from over 56 departments participating. 

Sarah Lange, a senior majoring in addiction and behavioral neuroscience in the College Scholars program, was one of the undergraduate Vols to present two research projects. “For the past three years, research has been my outlet for inquiry and critical thinking, my space for creativity, and my celebration of innovation,” Lange said. “My experience at the University of Tennessee has opened my eyes to the depth of material that research can explore, and I am exceptionally grateful for the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships for this opportunity!” 

In addition, the 2023 Faculty Research Mentor Award Winners, sponsored by URF, were announced. This award recognizes UT faculty who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to mentoring undergraduate researchers. At least two undergraduate students must nominate them, with at least one having participated in the recent EURēCA. 

Since 1997, EURēCA has become one of UT’s premier undergraduate research events and is an annual spring event that showcases research and creative activities across all disciplines by currently enrolled undergraduate students in collaboration with a faculty mentor. This year, student research was overseen by 331 faculty mentors, as well as postdocs and graduate students helping to mentor undergraduates in their research groups. In addition, 224 campus and industry judges participated, and division representatives worked with Undergraduate Research & Fellowships for the entire academic year to provide this opportunity for students. 

Tyler Myers, a senior majoring in microbiology and neuroscience and 2023 Goldwater Scholar, said, “”EURēCA gave me an opportunity to showcase my own research while celebrating the hard work of my peers. Participating in such an interdisciplinary event as EURēCA helps unify our campus through a shared interest in academic exploration and creative endeavors.”

Nathaniel Bradley with members of the CCDAE team receiving his award.

One undergraduate and one graduate student recently received the Lumsden-Greenberg Excellence in Career Management award. Nathaniel Bradley is a senior in English with a concentration in technical writing and a Wildlife and Fisheries management minor. The graduate student awardee was Ekramul H. Ehite, a graduating PhD student in biosystems engineering.

This award recognizes students who have demonstrated success in their career development journey and engaged with relevant resources/experiences. These students utilized Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration (CCDAE) services, including individual appointments or classes, gained direct skills through internships or other experiential learning, and attended career workshops, events, or fairs. Additionally, these students have developed a personal brand and have been able to articulate their skills, knowledge, and abilities with confidence through the job search or graduate school admissions process.

Bradley, the first student awarded, participated in several career coaching appointments while changing his major, attended drop-in resume review hours, and attended one of the Career Conversations. He had also utilized Handshake to apply for positions. He is a member of the Student Disability Services Advisory Board and has participated in several experiential learning opportunities, including opportunities through the Departments of Wildlife and Fisheries and Anthropology. He has also worked part-time at a public library, which helped lead to his post-graduate goal of attending graduate school for library and information science.

Ehite attended 20 different career development events over the past year! These included numerous employer info sessions for engineering, Prepare for the Fair, job fairs, and the Memphis VOLTrek for engineering students. On a recent multi-day employer visit, Ehite researched and connected with the employers ahead of the trip, had thoughtful questions for each of the employers, and has connected with employers after he returned to campus. Multiple employers and the trip organizer commented on both Ehite’s skills and achievements, but also on how pleasant their interactions were with him throughout our visit. In addition to his graduate research, he interned at Johnson & Johnson in 2022. He is currently in the process of interviewing with several companies for engineering-related positions, including one he met on the CCDAE’s VOLTrek.

Goal area one of the university’s Strategic Vision, Cultivating the Volunteer Experience, calls for collaborative and experiential educational opportunities that are responsive to the needs of learners. While many efforts are being lifted to respond to this call, one unifying strategic investment that UT has named is a sustained focus on our scholars’ well-being.   

Following recommendations from the Strengths Advisory Council, the Office of the Provost and the Division of Student Success committed to extending UT’s investment in student well-being into the classroom. In August 2022, Dr. Sally Hunter began her appointment as the Volunteer Experience faculty director. In October 2022, faculty members were invited to apply to become Volunteer Experience Faculty Fellows. In January 2023, the 18 faculty fellows from all nine undergraduate colleges were announced to the university community.  

As spring 2023 comes to a close, these 18 Volunteer Experience Faculty Fellows are halfway through their fellowship. Over the course of the semester, through a partnership with Teaching and Learning Innovation, the fellows have engaged in workshops and sharing best practices regarding teaching pedagogies that support the well-being of students and faculty alike. One of the goals of this initiative is for the fellows to engage their colleagues in dialogue regarding practices that are best suited to their field and classroom type. Each fellow has submitted their tentative plans for fostering these discussions or creating resources for their own units.  

“Working with colleagues across campus and disciplines has helped me identify shared challenges we all face every day and develop straight-forward tools to make us better faculty and members of our shared community,” Laura Knight, assistant professor of practice in the Tickle College of Engineering, said. “Although generally, STEM students and faculty might demand a slightly different set of tools than those used in a humanities classroom, by working together, we are realizing the similarities and synergies of teaching with a shared PERMA model.” 

The fellows have had many discussions over the course of the semester on the importance of introducing tools and language that are an easy lift to support the excellent teaching that is already occurring on this campus.  

“Promoting and fostering the well-being of our students will enable better and more meaningful classroom experiences for all learners,” Jennifer Fowler, distinguished lecturer in the College of Arts & Sciences, said. “Creating an environment where students feel connected to their classmates and teachers, and where they are engaged, motivated, feel valued and a sense of accomplishment, can make a real difference in their academic careers.” 

This group will reconvene in August 2023, and the faculty fellows will then work in small groups to: (a) create both general and field-specific toolkits of well-being resources; (b) host informal sessions to speak with small groups of colleagues about the resources that are available and share existing practices; and (c) present more formally in venues such as department retreats, department faculty meetings, and Faculty Senate. 

“While the focus of this initiative is on tending to the well-being of our students through their most common touchpoint on campus, it has been so rewarding to see the community being built amongst the fellows themselves,” Hunter said. At the final meeting of the semester, the fellows shared not only their tentative plans for fall 2023 but also the way they were affected by the opportunity to share interdisciplinary ideas and form relationships across colleges. 

Those interested in learning more about the PERMA Model of Well-Being and how to integrate an asset-based framework in the classroom can visit the Teaching and Learning Innovation resource page on Fostering the Volunteer Experience. 

The Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, recently announced the inaugural class of University Honors Faculty Fellows within the Division of Student Success.  

The University Honors Faculty Fellows consist of 12 faculty members from various colleges on campus with the goal and purpose of developing a core honors curriculum that places a strong emphasis on the application of innovative methodologies, such as design thinking to address complex problem solving.

Using the Honors external review and reimagining process, which took place in the Fall of 2022, the Faculty Fellows have started laying the groundwork for the development of a comprehensive and engaging curriculum to ensure students will be equipped with the necessary tools to effectively navigate their path to success in their academic and professional pursuits. By helping honors students engage in problem-solving approaches, such as “design thinking”, the focus will also be on creating practical solutions and providing a structured framework for approaching sophisticated, multilayered issues.  

“Design Thinking is a creative process to explore desired future conditions. Honors Students will work in diverse teams and synthesize a breadth of knowledge and experiences to test original ideas for emergent, unfamiliar, and complicated real-world situations,” said Professor David Matthews of the College of Architecture and Design. “Based on empathic, human-centered perspectives, design thinkers learn to create desired future conditions by innovation, iteration, experimenting with prototypes, and taking risks.” 

The leadership from Dr. Pat Akos, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success and Executive Director of Honors & Scholars Programs, has been instrumental in the selection of a diverse and accomplished group of Faculty Fellows, ensuring that students will have access to a wealth of knowledge and expertise from a broad range of academic disciplines. 

“The Faculty Fellows were chosen based on their teaching excellence, experience with honors students, design and topical expertise, and commitment to the Honors Program”, said Dr. Akos. “The collaborative nature of the fellow’s program mirrors the interdisciplinary problem-solving approach our University Honors students will learn.” 

“I am grateful to the faculty fellows for graciously committing their time, talent, and expertise to this impactful university initiative. The Honors Faculty Fellows are an essential component of the Honors Program, and their contributions will significantly impact the program’s success,” said Vice Provost for Student Success, Amber Williams. 

The work of the Faculty Fellows will continue through the spring semester into next fall with learning objectives, assessments, syllabi, and a proposal for an honors minor as planned outcomes. The curriculum design will provide interdisciplinary breadth early in students’ academic careers to prepare them for the depth of college and disciplinary honors programs on campus.  

We invite you to stay tuned for more updates as the work of the Faculty Fellows unfolds. Please click here and select the Honors Faculty Fellows drop down to read further about the perspectives of the Faculty Fellows on design thinking and wicked problems.  

Honors Faculty Fellows:

Neeraj Bharadwaj, Professor, Haslam College of Business 

Marina Maccari-Clayton, Distinguished Lecturer, Department of History 

Matthew C. Harris, Associate Professor, Haslam College of Business 

Jon Hess, Professor, College of Communication and Information 

Nathan Hicks, Assistant Professor, Tickle College of Engineering 

Joe Jarret, Lecturer, Department of Political Science  

Sean S. Lindsay, Senior Lecturer, Department of Physics and Astronomy 

David Matthews, Professor, College of Architecture and Design 

Mike McKinney, Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences 

Andrew Pulte, Distinguished Lecturer and Director, Department of Plant Sciences

Anna Sandelli, Associate Professor, Libraries  

Keith Stanfill, Assistant Dean, Tickle College of Engineering 

Ex-Officio Curriculum Committee Members: 

Ryan McCormack 

Elle Johnson 

Aaron Dixon 

Virginia Stormer 

CortneyJo (CJ) Sandidge 

Contact:

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Division of Student Success

Richard D. Lee

865-974-8812

rlee57@utk.edu

When your school’s athletic mascot is a dog and your nickname is “the Volunteers,” it only makes sense to blend the two together and that’s just what a group of University of Tennessee, Knoxville students are doing. 

Students from UT’s Honors & Scholars Programs and Haslam College of Business have partnered alongside Smoky Mountain Service Dogs (SMSD) to become the first cohort of UT students socializing puppies as part of the dogs’ training towards becoming service animals.

“I am pleased to announce our exceptional UTK students have completed training and are now ready to embark on an exciting journey of socializing puppies for Smoky Mountain Service Dogs,” said Amber Williams, Vice Provost for Student Success. “This program embodies the spirit of volunteering and fostering collaboration across multiple colleges and departments, especially with our veterans and veterinarians, and brings me such immense joy and excitement!” 

After completing 12 hours of rigorous online training and an additional eight hours of hands-on training with members of SMSD, the students will move on to working directly with the puppies. They will meet with their furry companions each Tuesday throughout the semester and will socialize the puppies by taking them through campus and into classrooms, getting the dogs used to being around people and crowds of all shapes and sizes. 

By utilizing students, the dogs can help be exposed to different environments than what the normal service trainers might have in mind. “Many of our long-term volunteers are seniors; they live pretty predictable lives,” said Amy Clugg, faculty lecturer at the Haslam College of Business’ Department of Marketing and SMSD volunteer. “(The regular volunteers) are incredible in terms of raising these puppies but (the puppies) are not getting a diversity of experiences: ages, situations, environments, youthful energy, sporting events, elevators, library, classes and more!”

Founded in 2010, the Smoky Mountain Service Dogs provide mobility support dogs for other-abled military and first responder veterans. A fully accredited institution by Assistance Dogs International, SMSD has placed 60 dogs and worked with 55 U.S. veterans.

In addition to the Honors and Haslam students, SMSD will also partner with other departments throughout UT and the Division of Student Success, including the Veterans Success Center, ROTC and the College of Veterinary Medicine. 

“It’s a magical realization of a small idea and a tremendous school where the volunteer experience is alive and well,” said Clugg.

ABOUT UT

The University of Tennessee is a statewide system of higher education with campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and Memphis; the UT Institute of Agriculture with a presence in every Tennessee county; and the statewide Institute for Public Service. The UT System manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory through its UT-Battelle partnership; enrolls about 54,000 students statewide; produces about 13,000 new graduates every year; and represents more than 433,000 alumni around the world.

ABOUT SMOKY MOUNTAIN SERVICE DOGS 

Smoky Mountain Service Dogs is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to Enhance the Physical and Psychological Quality of Life for Veterans with Disabilities by Providing Custom-Trained Mobility Assistance Service Dogs. SMSD trains mobility assistance service dogs for veterans with service-connected physical disabilities where canine assistance is appropriate like balance assistance, picking up dropped items, et cetera. SMSD’s service area is regional, serving a 350-mile radius or an approximate six-hour drive from Knoxville, Tennessee. SMSD serves the entire state of Tennessee and portions of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Virginia regionally.

Contact:

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Division of Student Success

Patrick Garlock

865-974-8930

pgarlock@utk.edu

Members of the Volunteer community gathered Friday, March 3 for the second annual Career Outcomes Summit in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Student Union.

Stephanie Kit, executive director of the Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration, presented data from 2021-2022 graduates on their post-UT outcomes while Dr. Amber Williams, Vice Provost for Student Success, welcomed the panel while also offering closing remarks.

“It was a pleasure to hear directly from our faculty about the nuanced ways they integrate career-readiness into their curriculum. These intentional moments help scholars connect their classroom experiences to their future careers.” said VPSS Williams.

Highlights included a 90% positive career outcome rate for the 2022 graduating class, the highest in UT history. Positive career outcomes are defined as obtaining employment, attending graduate or continuing education, performing military service, or working with a service organization.

Overall, 60% of students who did achieve employment are employed in-state, with a $56,624 mean salary, while 70% completed an internship or similar experience. Top employers include: The University of Tennessee, PepsiCo/Frito-Lay, Pilot Flying J, UT Medical Center, and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

During the summit each faculty member, from a variety of colleges and departments, shared ways in which they include career in their curriculum, ranging from hands-on projects that involve employers and community organizations to assignments that allow students to connect what they’re learning in their major classes to the career competencies they are building.

Ultimately the faculty panel’s main goals are helping students to be better prepared to solve the challenges they will encounter in the workforce.

The Faculty Panel consisted of:

• Dr. Leonard Clemons, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success
• Dr. Erin Darby, Associate Professor, Religious Studies and Faculty Director, Undergraduate Research & Fellowships
• Dr. Julie Ferrara, Assistant Department Head and Lecturer, Business Analytics & Statistics
• Dr. Laura Knight, Assistant Professor, Outreach & Engagement Coordinator, Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Ms. Ashleigh Powers, Coordinator of Academic Advising, Psychology
• Ms. Cary Staples, Professor, Graphic Design
• Dr. Liz Derryberry, Associate Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Sponsored by the Division of Student Success and the Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration, the Summit connects faculty and staff at UT with information on students’ post-graduation outcomes to evaluate their success while at college. The data collected from the career profile enables UT to improve academic and student success initiatives that support scholars as they set and achieve their post-graduation goals, securing employment or continuing education. This strategy aligns with UT’s Strategic Vision, particularly Goal One of cultivating the Volunteer Experience. 

The Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration utilizes multiple outlets for getting career outcomes and collects this data for up to six months after graduation. These include attending on-campus events to gather information, participating in calling campaigns, and researching online outlets such as LinkedIn for post-graduation outcomes. National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) provides career outcomes guidelines for higher education institutions on collecting and reporting post-graduation career outcomes. 

The center also recently rebranded their What Can I Do With This Major? website. This additional resource features major-specific profiles with information on common career paths, employers in that field, and strategies to maximize opportunities.

University of Tennessee, Knoxville, student scholars recently traveled to the Tennessee Capitol to present their undergraduate research projects to state legislators as part of the annual Posters at the Capitol. The event provides students exposure and access to state leaders and legislators, including Governor Bill Lee who addressed the students to open the poster exhibition.

“I expanded my network by meeting other undergraduate researchers while sharing incredibly important entomological research with Tennessee’s state representatives.” Kathleen Coffman, a senior majoring in plant sciences, said. “This opportunity inspired me to continue communicating science to people of all backgrounds and educational foundations.”

The student scholars who participated were:

• Kathleen Coffman, Senior, Plant Sciences, Presented: Zombie Ant Fungus: It’s Now Among Us, Faculty Sponsor: Dr. J.F. Grant
• Madlen Conley, Junior, Geography, Presented: Exploring the Dendrochronological Potential of Eastern Red Cedar Trees at the McGhee-Carson site, Vonore, Tennessee, Faculty Sponsors: Dr. Matthew Kerr & Dr. Jaqueline Kerr
• Tony George, Senior, Biomedical Engineering, Presented: Experimental Study of Aspiration Catheter Removal for Ischemic Strokes, Faculty Sponsor: Bryan Good
• Gillian Hertslet, Junior, Biological Sciences, Presented: Investigation into the Conformational Dynamics of Glucagon Receptor using Single-Molecule Fluorescence Microscopy, Faculty Sponsor: Rajan Lamichhane
• Jada Laws, Senior, Psychology, Presented: Prenatal Wellness Interventions’ Influence on Postpartum Contraceptive Plans, Faculty Sponsor: Jill Maples
• Hannah Morris, Senior, College Scholars (Education Reform and Policy), Presented: Play and the Built Environment: An Interdisciplinary Examination of Children’s Access to Play in Knoxville-Knox County, Faculty Sponsor: Professor Michael Camponovo & Dr. Margaret Quinn
• Tyler Myers, Sophomore, Microbiology and Neuroscience, Presented: Investigating Dopamine Modulation by Bacterial Symbionts in Entomopathogenic Nematodes, Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Heidi Goodrich-Blair
• Caleb Napper, Senior, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Presented: Analysis of Alternate Binder Properties in Optimized Concrete, Faculty Sponsor: Dr. John Ma
• Breanna Polen, Senior, Food Science, Presented: Listeria monocytogenes: Survival of the Fittest!, Faculty Sponsor: Doris D’Souza
• Ellie Pritchard, Senior, Neuroscience, Presented: Advancing Neurodegenerative Disease Research using Brain Slice Culture, Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Rebecca A. Prosser
• Skylar Sopko, Senior, Nursing, Presented: Correctional Nurses’ Perceptions of Substance Use Withdrawal Treatment for Pregnant Women in Jail in the South-Central Appalachia Region, Faculty Sponsor: Sadie Hutson & Dr. Carrie Lingerfelt

Before traveling to Nashville, Undergraduate Research & Fellowships hosted an orientation to help scholars refine their posters and presentations. Christie Kennedy, director of research marketing and communications for UT’s Office of Communications & Marketing, presented to the scholars about how to effectively communicate their research to a broader audience. David Smith, director of external affairs for The Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, advised the students about how the students can contribute to statewide efforts to translate academic research into real-world policymaking.

In addition to our Vols, students from the University of Tennessee at Martin, University of Memphis, Austin Peay University, East Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University, and Middle Tennessee State University, the organizer of the event, also presented. The Tennessee Board of Regents and University of Tennessee System hosted the event.

UT’s New Student Orientation has announced the 2023-2024 orientation leaders. Orientation Leaders use their Volunteer Spirit and Big Orange pride to welcome New Vols and their family members to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, over the summer and throughout the first six weeks of each semester. The Orientation Leader experience is a rewarding experience that provides opportunities for personal and professional growth in areas such as team building, public speaking, communication and interpersonal skills, problem-solving, diversity and inclusion, conflict management, and building confidence as a leader.

2023-2024 Orientation Leaders

College of Architecture & Design
Leilani Tucker-Burgos – Interior Architecture

College of Arts & Sciences
Drake Coakieanos – Psychology
Riya Golden – Political Science
Hollister Hamlin – Pre-Law
Katie Kelton-Clark – Mathematics
Pandora Moss – Sociology
Peter Wilford – Political Science

College of Education, Health & Human Science
Cassidy Collins – Audiology & Speech Pathology
Susanna Digby – Kinesiology
Rebecca Elsner – Secondary Social Science Education
Ainsley McCurry – Special Education
Jehah McWhorter – Kinesiology
Jaylyn Rodger – Kinesiology
MarKasia Young – Elementary Education

Haslam College of Business
Namrata Ghare – Management
Jack Herrington – Marketing
Colin Zimmer – Management

Herbert College of Agriculture
Ava Trivanovic – Animal Science

Tickle College of Engineering
Sanya Shrivastava – Computer Science
Jackson Taylor – Aerospace Engineering