Student Ambassadors

Ainsley Bell

Hometown

Ashburn, VA

Major

Psychology

Personal Career Interests

Becoming an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist

Reason I Chose My Major

I am fascinated with understanding why people do the things they do.

Extracurricular Activities

• Chi Omega
• Panhellenic Executive Board
• Order of Omega
• Psi Chi

Ainsley Bell

Hometown

Morristown, TN

Major

Neuroscience

Personal Career Interests

Neurologist with a specialty in Multiple Sclerosis patients

Reason I Chose My Major

I love the brain and have a very strong passion for the field of neuroscience! Learning about how the human mind works and the most recent scientific research being discovered is fascinating!

Extracurricular Activities

• Quillen College of Medicine EQUIP program
• Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity
• University of TN Medical Center Ambassador
• Neuroscience Advancement Club Member

Adeline Brown

Hometown

Naples, FL

Major

Microbiology

Personal Career Interests

Neonatologist

Reason I Chose My Major

I’ve always been fascinated by cell biology—and I love learning more about life’s operation at its most fundamental level!

Extracurricular Activities

• Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority
• Phi Delta Epsilon International Medical Fraternity
• Clinic Vols

Aden Brown

Hometown

Bolivar, TN

Major

Psychology

Personal Career Interests

My goal is to earn a PsyD to become a clinical psychologist and assist others in improving their mental health.

Reason I Chose My Major

I chose psychology out of a passion for understanding human behavior and making a positive impact on people’s lives.

Extracurricular Activities

• VOLthon Recruitment Committee
• Representative on the Undergraduate Council Advising Committee
• Research Assistant in the Social Perception and Cognition Lab

Grace Cooper

Hometown

Phoenix, AZ

Major

Political Science, minor in Business Administration

Personal Career Interests

Government or CIA/FBI

Reason I Chose My Major

I love learning about the government and governmental systems and have a strong urge to help the american government change and develop with the times!

Extracurricular Activities

• Delta Gamma Sorority
• Member of Kappa Alpha Pi: Government and Pre-Law Fraternity

Madison Ellis

Hometown

Spring City, TN

Major

Neuroscience

Personal Career Interests

I want to join the army as a Health Administration Officer. I then want to go to medical school after my four years of service and become a pediatric neurosurgeon.

Reason I Chose My Major

I have always had a fascination with the brain! It’s so mysterious and complex, and I love learning about something that is developing in the field.

Extracurricular Activities

• Army ROTC
• Miss Tennessee Volunteer Organization
• N.E.A.T.

Jesse Evans

Hometown

Loudon, TN

Major

Psychology

Personal Career Interests

Domestic Humanitarian Aid

Reason I Chose My Major

I love understanding the greater dynamics at play in our society.

Kyndal Hazen

Hometown

Brentwood, TN

Major

Art, Psychology minor

Personal Career Interests

Artist, Art Therapist, Art Teacher

Reason I Chose My Major

I want to pursue a career of creativity and adventure, and I get to explore my passion through numerous mediums within the School of Art.

Extracurricular Activities

• Chi Alpha (campus ministry)
• Climbing Club

Claire Hill

Hometown

Cookeville, TN

Major

Neuroscience with a minor in Pre-Health Professions

Personal Career Interests

Optometry

Reason I Chose My Major

I chose this major because I have always loved learning about how biology and psychology intersect, and how the brain operates!

Extracurricular Activities

• Optometric technician

Kinsley Holder

Hometown

Sanford, NC

Major

Neuroscience, Pre-Health minor

Personal Career Interests

Dental School/Dentist

Reason I Chose My Major

I knew science would be the best fit for me with the career I wanted to pursue so after exploring around freshman year with the different science majors, I chose Neuro and it has been the best journey!

Extracurricular Activities

• Student Dental Association
• Peer Mentor
• Student Success Express Intern

Kate Holloway

Hometown

Plainfield, IL

Major

Psychology, double minor in Journalism and Human Development

Personal Career Interests

Licensed Professional Counselor working with children and adolescents

Reason I Chose My Major

Provides a foundation of human development, human behavior, and mental processes.

Extracurricular Activities

• Undergraduate Research Assistant
• International Honor Society in Psychology
• Sorority (Pi Beta Phi)

Nyla Jones

Hometown

Memphis, TN

Major

Biology, Global Public Health

Personal Career Interests

OBGYN or Anesthesiology

Reason I Chose My Major

I chose my major because of my love for science. I enjoy learning about how and why people, plants, and animals function the way they do. I also think this major is a good stepping stone and will provide a good foundation of knowledge for my future studies in medicine.

Extracurricular Activities

• Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
• Director of Public Relations for the National Society of Black Women in Medicine
• Member of VolTeam

Morgan Loftin

Hometown

Charlotte, NC

Major

Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, minor in public health

Personal Career Interests

Pre-med track and am looking to attend medical school in the future

Reason I Chose My Major

I chose my major because I have always been fascinated by the human body and how it works down to the molecular level.

Extracurricular Activities

• UTK club field hockey member
• Chi Omega Sorority
• Red Cross Volunteer
• RAM club
• SFWM

Sophia Marcigliano

Hometown

Cumming, GA

Major

Political Science

Personal Career Interests

Law school next and then we’ll see

Reason I Chose My Major

I’ve always been very interested in government and law throughout middle and high school and wanted to continue studying that in college. It also felt like a natural precursor to law school.

Extracurricular Activities

• Women in Politics club
• Chancellors Honors
• Phi Beta Kappa

Mariah Mondragon

Hometown

Clinton, TN

Major

Anthropology with a double concentration in Forensics and Disasters, Displacement and Human Rights

Personal Career Interests

Criminal Investigator/Forensic Anthropologist

Reason I Chose My Major

I chose to major in forensic anthropology because I’ve always been fascinated by science and the way it helps us understand the world around us. Life and death are such natural and remarkable parts of existence—inevitable, interconnected, and deserving of admiration. Our bones, the most natural part of who we are, carry the marks of our experiences and tell the story of our lives. I’m drawn to the idea that even after we’re gone, our bodies continue to speak, showing what happens when we pass and how our remains can tell the story of our lives.

Kendyl Moore-Taliaferro

Hometown

Tyler, TX

Major

Biology (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) and Anthropology

Personal Career Interests

Paleoanthropology

Reason I Chose My Major

To have a diverse background in both biology and anthropology to help me succeed in graduate school and my career.

Extracurricular Activities

• McClung Museum Student Advisory Board
• Naturalist Club
• Pursuit Undergraduate Research Reviewer

Afia Opoku

Hometown

Nashville, TN

Major

Biological Sciences with a concentration in Biochemistry Cellular Molecular Biology, Neuroscience minor

Personal Career Interests

Neurologist/Psychiatrist

Reason I Chose My Major

Biochemistry is a very specific intersection between biology, the what and chemistry the why/how which pretty much explains the happenings of every thing within the human body. That is something that really interested me when I was picking my major, and it has its benefits with a future career and medicine.

Extracurricular Activities

• Resident Assistant in Fred D Brown Junior Hall
• African Student Association
• National Society of Black Women in Medicine
• Rocky Top Roundtable

Aastha Oza

Hometown

Murfreesboro, TN

Major

Biological Sciences (BCMB concentration), Hispanic Studies Minor

Personal Career Interests

ER Physician

Reason I Chose My Major

I was particularly interested in the interdisciplinary connections embedded in this major because they relate to a greater molecular understanding of the human body and its interactions.

Extracurricular Activities

• Chancellor’s Honors Program
• EMS Vols
• Undergraduate Senate
• Alpha Omega Epsilon
• Sharma Raman Research Lab
• PSC at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital

Anna Kate Paris

Hometown

Chattanooga, TN

Major

Political Science with a concentration in Law and Courts and a minor in Hispanic Studies

Personal Career Interests

Family/Immigration Attorney

Reason I Chose My Major

The structure of our government and how laws are created/implemented are topics which have always been of interest to me. As my goal is to attend Law school, Political Science provides me with a basic understanding of our legal system to make the transition to a legal education easier as I will possess background knowledge. The degree provides me with opportunities to advance in skills needed for a legal profession such as critical thinking and writing!

Extracurricular Activities

• Member of Kappa Alpha Pi: Government and Pre-Law Fraternity
• Alumni Association College of Arts and Sciences Student Representative

Samuel Pomeroy

Hometown

Jackson, TN

Major

Biological Sciences – BCMB

Personal Career Interests

I plan to attend dental school next fall to become a dentist.

Reason I Chose My Major

I have always loved the sciences, and I felt that biochemistry would be good preparation for dental school.

Extracurricular Activities

• Student Dental Association
• Intramural Sports

Ayah Rassul

Hometown

Memphis, TN

Major

Biology with a concentration in BCMB and a minor in Nutrition

Personal Career Interests

Pediatrics/Plastics Physician assistant

Reason I Chose My Major

I chose to major in BCMB because I’ve always been interested in the medical field and science. This major lets me take classes I really enjoy while also giving me the chance to explore other areas beyond just biology allowing me to gain skills that will be useful for my career goal.

Extracurricular Activities

• PASA (PA student association)
• Nursing Assistant
• Biology Lab uTA

Ava Reed

Hometown

Huntsville, AL

Major

Language & World Business Major, Chinese and TESOL Certification

Personal Career Interests

Diplomacy, Global Affairs, Non-profit Administration

Reason I Chose My Major

I liked how interdisciplinary my program is! I take an equal number of business classes as I do language. It has been great to cast a wide net and take many different kinds of classes. Additionally, it has been great to have a small major, as the team behind me (e.g., mentors, heads of departments, advisors, and professors) has been so helpful.

Extracurricular Activities

• Phi Beta Kappa
• Peace Corps Prep
• PR Chair for Habitat for Humanity
• PR Chair for Language World Business Association

Cameron Roney

Hometown

Louisville, KY

Major

Neuroscience major with a Hispanic studies minor

Personal Career Interests

I hope to go to medical school after graduation with an interest in pursuing women’s health.

Reason I Chose My Major

I chose neuroscience as my major because of its combination between science and psychology. I have always been interested in the brain, and neuroscience allows me to explore the psychological and biological processes of the brain.

Extracurricular Activities

• Phi Delta Epsilon
• Alpha Delta Pi
• Intern at Genesis Neuroscience Clinic
• Nurse Tech at UT Med
• Spanish Club
• Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (DCN) lab
• 1794 Scholars Program
• Volunteer at Young Williams

Caitlin Ryan

Hometown

Charlotte, NC

Major

Forensic Anthropology

Personal Career Interests

CSI or a Crime Lab Technician

Reason I Chose My Major

I am passionate about using science to help bring justice and closure to victims and their families.

Apeksha Sawarkar

Hometown

Nashville, TN

Major

Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology

Personal Career Interests

To attend veterinary school and become a veterinary consultant for the American Veterinary Medical Association

Reason I Chose My Major

It aligned well with the personal career goals I had and it allowed me to get hands-on experience on science research and experimentation through my coursework.

Extracurricular Activities

• Pre-Veterinary Association
• Alpha Sigma Kappa – Women in Technical Studies Sorority
• Eta Sigma Phi Classics Honor Society
• Peer Learning Assistant at Vol Study Center

Madeleine Sorrell

Hometown

Lafayette, LA

Major

Physics with Astronomy minor

Personal Career Interests

I want to go and get my PhD in astrophysics after undergrad and then work in a national lab/become a professor.

Reason I Chose My Major

I chose my major because I’ve always loved astronomy, and I really enjoyed my physics classes in high school. Once, I got into my physics classes, I loved the department so much. I discovered that I could work to become an astrophysicist and study the things that have always interested me.

Extracurricular Activities

• Alpha Omega Epsilon (STEM sorority)
• Women in Physics Club
• Coordinator of Smokey’s Pantry

Hayley Sparkman

Hometown

Manchester, TN

Major

Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology

Personal Career Interests

Dentistry – DDS

Reason I Chose My Major

I chose to pursue dentistry because human health and anatomy have always been strong personal interests of mine. I was drawn to dentistry specifically because of the opportunity to be a healthcare provider who truly understands their patients while teaching good oral hygiene and helping them to achieve their desired smile!

Extracurricular Activities

• Student Dental Association
• Cornhole Club

Brooke Williams

Hometown

Southlake, TX

Major

Political Science and Economics

Personal Career Interests

Law School

Reason I Chose My Major

Political Science with a law and court concentration exposes me to the innerworkings of public policy and I can use this as a foundation in my study of law. Economics offers insight into human behavior and an understanding of business practices that I will be able to utilize in client relationships and in the case that I open my own firm in the future.