“The caliber of UT students stands out leaps and bounds above other institutions.” 

– Ashlee Price, Pilot Company 

The highest positive career outcome in history, the number one skill employers look for in a candidate, and how to give UT graduates an edge were all hot topics in the Third Annual Career Outcomes Summit.

The recent gathering, held in UT’s Student Union, allows for members of the Volunteer community to come together with local employers to discuss career outcomes data from recent graduates, career readiness in the classroom, and how to prepare Volunteers for the modern workforce.  

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UT’s Undergraduate Research & Fellowships announced two undergraduate Volunteers have been named finalists for the Truman Scholarship. Summit Wright and Grace Hardin were two of 193 finalists chosen from 709 applications from 285 schools.

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UT’s Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration is preparing for one of the most exciting times on Rocky Top – job fair season!

This spring the center is hosting multiple job and internship fairs bringing in top-rated employers from across the country and collaborating on major-specific fairs being offered by colleges and programs on campus.

This semester’s largest fairs are the Spring Job Fair:

• Day 1: Business and Government on February 20
• Day 2: Engineering and Tech on February 21

Both events are from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. in the Student Union Pilot Company Ballroom.

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“We want to show all of our students they are math people.” – Jack Ryan, math lecturer 

With a steadfast commitment to enhance scholar well-being both inside and outside the classroom, the Division of Student Success (DSS) has awarded a grant to the Department of Mathematics.

The grant allows for a redesign of the Math 119-123-125 series: college algebra, finite math, and basic calculus. Angela Gentry, Math 119 course coordinator and senior lecturer, will lead the two-year initiative.  

“This grant underscores our commitment to fostering an environment where every student can thrive academically and personally,” says Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor John Zomchick. “This investment reinforces our dedication to innovative programs that empower students on their educational journey and contribute to their overall success.” 

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The University of Tennessee and Undergraduate Research & Fellowships announces three students were named finalists for prestigious awards to pursue graduate studies in the United Kingdom. Rachel Stewart was a finalist for both the Marshall and Rhodes scholarships, Diba Seddighi a finalist for the Marshall Scholarship, and Jacob Alrock a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship. 

Rachel Stewart, a 2022 Haslam Leadership Scholar and 2022 Truman Scholar, is an environmental sociology major and minoring in nuclear decommissioning and environmental management. On campus, she has served as president of Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville (SPEAK) and interned with the Office of Sustainability. In the spring of 2021, she was recognized with the Student Environmental Leadership Award, and her organization, the UT Compost Coalition, received the award for outstanding student organization. After graduation, Rachel plans on pursuing a master’s degree in health physics with a nuclear nonproliferation concentration. She hopes to work with the US Department of Energy as a health physicist, prioritizing community-engaged research and partnerships to help ensure that Indigenous and other marginalized communities benefit from scientific advances in radioactive waste management and nuclear weapons nonproliferation.  

Diba Seddighi, a 2022 grad, self-designed her degree, Global Health Equity, which examines issues of global health equity especially as they pertain to immigrant population, and minored in Spanish. A College Scholar, Diba is currently an NIH Post-Baccalaureate Fellow investigating sickle cell disease and equitable gene therapy. While a volunteer at Youth Hope, she developed strategies to address opioid use disorder in Knoxville. She also volunteered at Remote Area Medical, Centro Hispano, Bridge Refugee Services, and the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. Diba plans to pursue a master’s degree in Global Public Health and then a medical degree. She hopes to work as a physician in a low-resource setting, delivering accessible care through a career with the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics.  

Jacob Alrock, majoring in voice and minoring in German studies, is a Haslam Leadership Scholar, president of VolOpera, and board member of Knoxville Opera. Jacob’s work demonstrates a commitment to social justice and the inclusion of LGBTQ+ communities in the world of opera and performing arts, as audience members, theatergoers, and performers. A firm believer in “opera anywhere,” Jacob recently wrote and directed “Mavra: A Queer Opera” at the South Press Coffee House in partnership with UT’s Pride Center. Jacob plans to pursue a master’s degree in vocal performance and then a career in opera direction, administration, and performance in order to promote accessible opera. 

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The Division of Student Success and Vice Provost Amber Williams kicked off the third annual Leadership Management Institute (LMI) this fall with 17 leaders from across Student Success and advising participating. The LMI cohort meets on the second Monday of each month to hear from executive leaders of Student Success and learn more about leadership, CliftonStrengths, and professional development skills.  

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Emilie Wise with Kyle Ross, executive director of NACADA, and Teri Farr, president of NACADA.

Two University of Tennessee academic advisors won awards during NACADA’s 2023 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida October 4-7. Emilie Wise, coordinator for academic advising in the College of Arts & Sciences, was a winner of the NACADA Outstanding Advising Award in the primary advising category, and Lisa Byrd, associate director of advising for the Tickle College of Engineering, won the Outstanding Advising Award in the administrator category. 

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First-Year Student Carter Davis

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In an effort to foster personal and academic development, the First-Year Programs (FYP) department within the Division of Student Success (DSS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville continues to embark on a unique initiative that involves close to 6,000 students completing a Clifton Strengths assessment prior to the commencement of classes.  

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, hosted its inaugural Thrive Summit on Wednesday, November 15 to an audience of faculty and staff, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Arthur Brooks, and co-hosted by the Division of Student Success and The Baker School of Public Policy & Public Affairs. 

Provost John Zomchick provided opening remarks to kick off the Thrive Summit, stating, “As a university, we have a responsibility to promote well-being among our students and among each other. Today’s wonderful program shows we take this responsibility seriously.” 

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Renowned speaker and author Arthur Brooks recently engaged with a captivated audience of First-Year students on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus, sharing insightful perspectives on happiness, leadership, and personal fulfillment.

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