Volunteer 40 Under 40

Previous Recipients

Congratulations to all Volunteer 40 Under 40 award winners!

Learn More about Volunteer 40 Under 40

Class of 2023

Monica Abbott
Evan Baddour
Charles Bolen
Kenneth Brown-Wilson
Virginia Corrigan
Chris Davis
Edward DeBro Jr.
Britany Faith
Alexis Foster
Holly Greaves
Rebecca Grounsell
Emily Hager
Heather Haley
Brandon Harvey
Patrick Hazari
Marcus Hilliard
Kyle Hixson
Rachael Hodges
Michelle Howard
John “JC” Hudgison
Alexandra Ingram
Marcus Jeter
Victoria Kline
Dustin Koehl
Oladimeji Lanade, MD
Jessica Lenden-Holt
Lauren Moore
Candace Parker
Taylor Reynolds
Jordan Roach
Sarah Rodriguez
Sophia Rubio
Rachel Rui
Will Schaedle
Kevin Seymore
Alicia Swift
Courtney Vick
Christina Viviano
MacKinzie Washington
Fan Zhang

Class of 2022

Janine Al-Aseer
Dominique Banks
Bing Cao
Corbin Carpenter
Amber Childs
Jasmine Clark
Cara Clouse
Amie Cohorst
Justin Crawford
Anna Catherine Davenport
Ashton Davies
Lisa Dicker
Russell Dunlap
Alexandra Elliott
Eli Freeman
Justin Gatlin
Mirand Gottlieb
Gabriele Harris
Rachel Herwick
Drew Holcomb
Ellie Holcomb
Brett Howell
Raluca Iancu
Jordan Rae Kelly
Kami Lunsford
Adrienne Madison
María Martinez
Myiah McCullough
Charissa McNatt
Corey Miller
Brittany Mitchell
Chaz Molder
Lindsey O’Connell
Chima Onwuka
Rachel Ramsey
Michael R. Reynolds
Che Solla
Maria Hinson Tobin
Andreanna Williams
Lia Winter

Class of 2021

Timothy Ainger
Corey Alexander
Erin Anderson
Matthew Barnett
Nikki Burdine
Szu-Lung Chang
Jennifer Drake-Croft
Brooke Fraser Drummond
Shuwanza Goff
Billy Haley
Leslie Hamilton
Marquinta Harvey
R. Reid Harvey
Jen Hendrich
Cory Hipps
Josh Hopson
Charity Howard
Inky Johnson
Martesha Johnson
Christopher Jones
Korri Jones
Kara Lawson
Jamie Lonie
Elizabeth Johnson Million
Lauren Parks
Andrew Parsons
Gadson W. Perry
Jamie Porter
Wesley Rich
Ryan Robertson
Todd Skelton
Ashley Smith
Derek Spear
Jordan Spradling
Wade Stonebrook
Graham Thomas
John Thompson
James Trimble
Jason Witten
Rebecca Wyatt

Mohamed Abbas

MBA (’22)

Mohamed Abbas graduated from UT’s Professional MBA program in 2022, where he was voted Class President by his cohort. Born in Queens, Abbas lived in New York until he relocated to Knoxville in 2020. Abbas currently serves as the Senior Project Manager of the construction at the Downtown Knoxville multi-use stadium, which will become the new Smokies Stadium.

Abbas has also been a firefighter since he was seventeen years old. Since his initial involvement as a junior firefighter, he has obtained numerous rescue certifications, including Heavy Rescue, Trench Rescue, Structural Collapse, Swift Water rescue, Dive Rescue, and Confined Space rescue. Although he previously served as Battalion Chief of Operations at Knox County Rescue, he currently serves at Blount County Rescue and as a reserve firefighter at Rural Metro Fire.

Abbas is passionate about community service and regularly volunteers at the local Love Kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, and the prison reform program. He also serves as a UT Promise and TN Achieves Mentor. Abbas in the proud father of two girls, Leyla and Noor, and husband to his wife, Dina.

Mustafa Aljumaily

PhD (’20)

Mustafa Aljumaily, born in Iraq in 1985, completed his BSc and MSc in computer engineering at the University of Basrah’s College of Engineering. He then began teaching in several private and public universities in Iraq in 2009. Aljumaily additionally began writing books about computers and information technology and currently has over 20 of his works published for free online. In the spring semester of 2015, Aljumaily began the English Language Program at UT’s English Language Center and began his academic study towards his PhD in the EECS department by the summer of 2015. After defending his dissertation in 2020, Aljumaily graduated with his PhD in computer engineering.

Aljumaily’s scientific blog contains over 1,111 articles, lessons, Q&As, books, courses, guides, and tutorials about information and communications technologies, the English language, soft skills, and other topics he studied at UT. Additionally, he publishes videos on his YouTube channel on his experiences at UT and tutorials in both Arabic and English about ICT, English language, 5G, scientific research methodology, and Q&As. His channel currently contains over 1,350 videos and continues to serve a worldwide community of students, engineers, and researchers.

Aljumaily currently serves as the Chief IT Engineer at Missan Oil Company in Iraq.

Chris Bach

BS Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology (’10)
MS Kinesiology (’12)

Chris Bach currently serves as the Director of Performance Science for the Jacksonville Jaguars. A two-time UT graduate, Bach received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology in 2010 and his Master of Science degree in Kinesiology in 2012. He additionally acquired his PhD in Exercise Physiology from Florida State University.

Prior to his current position, Bach served as Director of the Nebraska Athletic Performance Lab, overseeing all sports science and sports analytics initiatives for Nebraska Athletics’ 23 sports programs. In addition to investigating sports performance as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at Nebraska Athletics, Bach has published over 15 peer-reviewed research articles and been invited as a guest speaker on various sports performance topics, both nationally and internationally, over the past 10 years.

Although he has been fortunate to live and travel across the world, Bach proudly represents UT at each of his stops. In his current professional role, he strives to aid athletes and staff with the attitude of servitude instilled by his residence in Tennessee.

Leslie Brooks

BS Animal Science (’08)
MPH (’11)
DVM Veterinary Medicine (’12)

Leslie Brooks, DVM, graduated from UT’s College of Veterinary Medicine with a dual degree in veterinary medicine and public health in 2012. After graduation, she moved to Indianapolis to complete a one-year intensive veterinary internship, gaining experience and skills at a veterinary specialty care center. She then served as a small animal clinical practitioner from 2013 to 2021, during which she became an entrepreneur and started her own veterinary house call practice.

Throughout this period, she also volunteered in various capacities within her community, including helping grow a non-profit to serve people experiencing homelessness and other life crises who have pets. In 2021, she was accepted into the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Science and Technology Policy Fellowship program and worked at the U.S. Agency for International Development in their Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance as an agriculture and livestock advisor for humanitarian programming. Upon the completion of the fellowship, she accepted a position with the Afterschool Alliance to lead their STEM Hub coalition and perform policy and advocacy work to ensure all youth have access to afterschool and summer STEM learning opportunities.

She currently lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and six-year old son, Mehdi.

Andraya Carter

BA Communication Studies (’15)
MS Kinesiology (’17)

Andraya Carter has established herself as one of ESPN’s rising stars across the network’s comprehensive sports coverage over the past four years. Before injuries curtailed her basketball career, the three-time Lady Vol letterwinner earned her bachelor’s degree in communication studies in 2015 and a master’s degree in kinesiology in 2017.

In 2018, Carter joined ESPN as a game analyst, working primarily on SEC Network. What began as a part-time contract with approximately 40 assignments per year ballooned to 128 assignments in 2022.

While continuing her role as a color analyst, 2022 introduced expanded roles as a studio analyst, studio host, sideline reporter and sideline analyst, a hybrid role created for her, for not only Women’s College Basketball but for the WNBA, NBA, and Men’s College Basketball across ESPN platforms, including ABC. Carter had the honor of serving as an analyst for ESPN’s coverage of the NBA Draft alongside JJ Reddick, Jay Bilas and Malika Andrews and has been added as a sideline reporter for the NBA this season. She has additionally earned a position as the first woman to hold a permanent role on ESPN’s basketball “College Gameday” show.

Ashley Cash

BS Marketing (’07)

Ashley Cash, class of 2007, is a hiring manager turned resume writer and career consultant specializing in writing $100k+ resumes and delivering professional development workshops.

Through Ashley Cash Coaching & Consulting, LLC, she seeks to close the wealth and wage gap by leveraging her experience working in organizations such as Whirlpool and Coca-Cola to teach her clients how to succeed in interviews and negotiate large sums of money. Witnessing women, specifically women of color, who were overworked, underpaid, and unsure how to negotiate, led Cash to develop coaching and courses. The courses teach clients how to present years of experience, accolades, and accomplishments into opportunity-attracting stories and narratives. Through her coaching, Cash has helped her clients acquire $100K+ roles at Amazon, Facebook, JPMorgan Chase, and the C-Suite.

Cash earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Haslam College of Business and now lives in Dallas, TX, with her husband and daughters.

Helen Conley

BSN Nursing (’21)

Memphis native Helen Conley received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from UT in 2021. Pursuing her passion for education, she served as student nurse anesthetist at UT’s Health Science Center prior to holding her current position as a clinical facilitator and manager of the Blue Code Sim Lab at Christian Brothers University.

Conley holds memberships with the Tennessee Nurses Association, through which she earned the TNA Rising Nurse leader award, and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

She began learning Spanish as a second language after many of her ICU patients did not speak English during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling her to foster deeper connections with her patients. She also hosts weekly Board preparation classes for new nursing graduates, and serves as a volunteer nurse at underserved schools in the Memphis area. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in nursing practice.

Bill Dabbs

BS Biomedical Engineering (’06)

Bill Dabbs MD, FAAFP is an associate professor and serves as the Assistant Dean of Clinical Curriculum in the College of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, as well as an Associate Residency Program Director in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville.

In addition to providing comprehensive care to his own panel of patients, he spends the majority of his working time educating undergraduate medical students and post-graduate resident physicians.

Dabbs has been recognized with multiple local and statewide teaching awards throughout his career, including the distinguished University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2022, he was inducted into the UTHSC College of Medicine’s Academy of Master Educators. Dabbs earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from UT in 2006.

Outside of medicine, he enjoys sharing his love of music with his family, cheering on the Vols and giving back to his alma mater, recently finishing his term as President of the Pride of the Southland Marching Band Alumni Council.

Courtney Doss

BS Animal Science (’07)

Courtney Doss, M. Ed., is the Founder and CEO of Soft Melanin, empowering Black women to embrace their authentic selves and lead fulfilling lives. With a grant portfolio of over $55 million, she serves as the Director of Strategy and Implementation at Dallas College, one of Texas’ largest higher education institutions.

She previously worked as the Associate Dean for Student Engagement at Dallas College’s North Lake Campus. With 15 years of experience in higher education, Doss implements transformative grants, including historical grants from the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and the Texas Education Agency.

In addition to her UT bachelor’s degree in animal science, Doss received her Master’s of Education from the University of North Texas in 2012. She additionally holds College of Business Certificates from Dallas College for Supervisory Management, Business Marketing, Accounting Clerk, and Small Business Academy, as well as membership with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

In addition to her professional roles, Doss is a devoted wife and mother, finding joy in creating a loving home for her family. She also indulges in her hobbies of building Lego sets and creating art.

Erin Exum

BS Journalism and Electronic Media (’10)

Erin Exum, a Florida native and third-generation Vol, currently oversees PR, social media, community engagement, and creators/influencers for EA SPORTS on the North American Football team, including Madden and College Football.

Before graduating with her bachelor’s degree in journalism and electronic media in 2010, Exum was a DJ at WUTK radio, wrote a sports column for the Daily Beacon, interned in the Lady Vols athletic media relations office, actively participated in Chi Omega events and foundation activities, toured with future Vols as an Ambassador Scholar with the College of Admissions, and somehow had time to attend almost every football and basketball game.

Following over 10 years working with three NFL teams, Exum transitioned to sports-adjacent brands, where she combined her love of both sports and communication skills to lead large marketing campaigns.

Flo Flowers

BS Marketing/International Business (’09)

Atlanta native Flo Flowers currently serves as Associate Director of the Project Management Office for the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, in addition to opening the Greatstille Firm.

Over 10 years ago, Flowers founded the nonprofit organization Rent Due to assist underserved youth in identifying post-high school career paths. Flowers realized that the primary issue facing the community was that many students did not have access to basic necessities required to thrive in school, so Rent Due partnered with schools to support teachers by providing supplies and other resources. In addition to providing meals, toiletries, and clothing, they are currently working to provide mobile showers and laundry services for those without consistent access.

At UT, she was involved with Alpha Kappa Psi, the American Marketing Association, African American Achievers Program, Collegiate Black Christians, Alternative Fall Break, Intramurals, NAACP, and SGA. She earned an MBA in marketing and international business from Georgia State University.

Amanda Henneghan

BA English (’08)

Amanda Henneghan currently serves as Senior Communications Manager at Amazon, leading the internal communications team responsible for informing and inspiring frontline audiences across their North American Transportation and Delivery operations.

Henneghan is a Memphis native, and her previous roles include managing external strategy, executive communications, and diversity and inclusion initiatives at FedEx; facilitating community relations and business communications at International Paper; and working under two Tennessee governor administrations.

Henneghan remains an active member of the Memphis, Tennessee Chapter of The Links, Inc. and of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Houston Holdren

BA English (’19)

Houston Holdren serves as the Defense, Space & Security Senior Executive Assistant for Government Operations at the Boeing Company.

Prior to this role, she served as the Director of Operations for Rep. Elise Stefanik, where she directly shaped key messaging for the Republican Party. With the help of a UT peer, Holdren began her career on Capitol Hill as an intern for Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander.

In her free time, Holdren sits on the board for the Independent Women’s Network DC Chapter. She is also a member of the Security and Strategy Seminar Series fellowship cohort, hosted by the Alexander Hamilton Society and the Public Interest Fellowship. In the evenings, Houston is also pursuing a Master of Business Administration at George Mason University.

Bonnie Johnson

BA Anthropology (’13)

Bonnie Johnson is the director of the Pride Center, UT’s LGBTQ+ resource center.

After graduating from UT, she obtained her MSW from the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work in 2017. During her tenure at USC, Johnson held two professional internships as well as a two-year graduate assistantship in the USC LGBT Center.

The Pride Center has experienced multiple major victories through Johnson’s leadership, including implementation of a new mission, vision, values, and programming, the launch of the Vol Means All endowment campaign, and the Pride Center Scholarship Program. Johnson additionally led the revitalization of Safe Zone at UT, the university’s only LGBTQ+ workshop on terminology and advocacy, and the launch of the Pride Center Peer Mentoring Program.

Jason Kelley

BS Agricultural Economics (’06)

Jason Kelley currently serves as SLS Project Manager at Teledyne Brown Engineering in Huntsville, AL. He has received several awards from NASA for achievements supporting the International Space Station’s Artemis I mission.

Kelley supported the International Space Station on ground system resources, and developed a new NASA Payload Operations Integration Center flight controller position at the Marshall Space Flight Center. In addition to providing support to the International Space Station’s process integration, Kelley was a leader supporting the SLS rocket integration to prepare for launch.

When Kelley is not working in space operations, he serves his community as a volunteer firefighter.

Cora Key

BS Animal Science (’20)
MS Agriculture Resource Economics (’22)

Cora Key is the Education and Outreach Manager for the National Swine Registry in West Lafayette, IN. There she hosts youth leadership conferences and arranges scholarships for the National Junior Swine Association, which awards $30,000 to youth nationwide. She also serves as a leader for the NJSA Junior Board of Directors.

Key previously served as the Clay County, Tennessee 4-H Extension Agent, where she improved engagement with record camp participation and coached the Arizona National champion 4-H livestock judging team.

At UT, Key was a member of Sigma Alpha Professional Sorority, an intern as a Farm Credit Mid-America Scholar, an on-campus employee for the Tennessee 4-H Foundation, and a TA in multiple classes. She studied abroad in Australia through he Developing Global Leaders Down Under program.

Candice Lawton

BA Sustainability (’15)

Candice Lawton is the Senior Business Partnerships Manager at rePurpose Global, creating infrastructure that enables the global recovery of plastics from regions with high pollution on land and in oceans.

Lawton previously led community partnerships for a nonprofit addressing food waste and insecurity in the U.S. She has appeared as a sustainability expert on numerous panels and speaks at institutions including the French-American Chamber of Commerce, Princeton University, Sustainable Brands, and GreenBiz.

Lawton is an active advocate and practitioner of zero waste, public transit, urban farming, rebuilding tree canopies and permaculture. She currently resides in Philadelphia and enjoys being outdoors, reading, and cooking.

Christine Magnuson

BS Education (’09)

Christine Magnuson, a celebrated Lady Vol, Olympic swimmer, and current Senior Director at Salesforce, has excelled both in and out of the pool.

With a swimming career that includes two Olympic silver medals and multiple collegiate titles, Magnuson’s determination and passion for athletic achievement has transitioned seamlessly into the corporate world. At Salesforce, she leads a team of solution engineers for the company’s largest tech customers.

Jacques McClendon

BA Economics (’09)
MS Sport Management (’10)

Jacques McClendon is an agent with WME Sports, representing coaches and executives across professional and collegiate football. A four-year letterman at UT, McClendon was an Academic All-SEC selection. He spent seven years as an NFL player, with the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Miami Dolphins.

McClendon previously served six seasons as the Director of Football Affairs with the Los Angeles Rams. During his tenure, the Rams won Super Bowl LVI, and McClendon was a two-time participant in the Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum. McClendon serves on the Chairman’s Forum for Unify Credit Union and is a standing board member on the newly formed Pro Sports Assembly. McClendon is also on the advisory board for the Black Sports Symposium, an opportunity to create networking, professional development, and job opportunities for Black sports professionals.

In 2022, he graduated with his MBA from Brown University.

Heather Melton

BS Broadcasting (’06)

Ringgold, GA, native Heather Webster Melton spent her college career heavily involved in Delta Zeta sorority and Student Alumni Associates, among other clubs and honor societies. After graduating in 2006 with her bachelor’s degree in journalism and electronic media, Melton worked in radio promotions, where she won both CMA and ACM Stations of the year for WUSY in Chattanooga, TN. Pivoting to the nonprofit sector, she served as the Assistant Executive Director at the Chattanooga Kidney Foundation, where she is now Executive Director. In this role, she increased the organization’s revenue and services for local dialysis and kidney transplant patients by over 200%. The organization’s Dare to Dance fundraiser is a top fundraising event in Chattanooga, and was recognized by the State of Tennessee for 15 years of community impact. She also co-owns three businesses in the carpet industry in Dalton, GA, with her brother and husband. In memory of her late father and PGA professional Pete Webster, Melton co-owns a driving range. She established the Kidney Kup Golf Tournament in his honor, which has provided over $100,000 in assistance to Chattanooga kidney patients. In her free time, Melton enjoys volunteering with Delta Zeta’s Pi Lambda Chapter at UTC in an advisory role, traveling, cheering on the Vols, and spending time with her three dogs.

Karla Mendez

BA Political Science (’15)
JD Law (’18)

Karla Mendez currently serves as an Assistant District Attorney General for Knox County, representing the state in criminal prosecutions and working alongside several law enforcement agencies.

Mendez is a two-time UT graduate, earning her bachelor’s degree in political science in 2015 and her JD in 2018. As a student, Mendez was involved in many extracurricular activities, including the Howard Baker Center, United Residence Hall Council, and the Latino Law Student Association.

Prior to her position at the District Attorney’s Office, Mendez served as the Reentry Fellow for the UT Legal Clinic, helping hundreds of clients expunge their records and waive their court costs. Mendez is a member of both the Knoxville Bar Association and Inns of Court. In 2022, she was selected to serve as team leader and developed an education program. Mendez is a Venezuelan native and a proud immigrant, which allows her to understand the challenges of being an outsider. In her position as an Assistant District Attorney, she meets many victims who are fluent in only Spanish and feel nervous about the legal process. She takes time to make others feel comfortable by helping them understand legal processes.

Courtni Mosley

BA English (’08)

Courtni Mosley is the Senior Vice President of Human Resources for the Nashville Predators, Bridgestone Arena, Ford Ice Centers, and Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment. In partnership with the Nashville Predators Foundation, Mosley has committed over 550 hours toward community service in Nashville over the past 11 years. In the aftermath of The Covenant School shooting in 2023, Mosley led fundraising efforts to support and provide therapy for the school’s families.

After graduating from UT’s College of Arts and Sciences in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in English, Mosley earned her law degree from the Nashville School of Law in 2013. As a UT student, she was involved in many organizations and activities, including Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Order of Omega Honor Society, and serving on the Mayor’s Advisory Council under Mayor Bill Haslam. She began her career in human resources by working for Tractor Supply Company’s corporate office and maintained various roles with the company while pursuing her law degree.

She currently resides in Nashville with her husband, Philip, and their two young children.

Anna Myint

BA Communications (’08)

Nashville native Anna Myint grew up in the city’s first Thai restaurant and Asian grocery, International Market. Opened by her parents in 1975, the business closed in 2019; however, Myint reopened the local institution with her brother. She oversees front-of-house, finances, and communications. Most recently, International Market was recognized as one of the top 25 best new restaurants to visit in the South by Southern Living Magazine.

Myint received her bachelor’s degree in communicationfrom UT in 2008, earned her Fashion Design Certificate from the Parsons School of Design, and was awarded her MBA from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. In 2022, the Nashville Business Journal recognized Myint in their 40 Under 40 awards, and in 2023, she was a member of Nashville Emerging Leaders and Leadership Connect through the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. Most recently, she was named a finalist for the Nashville Emerging Leaders Awards for hospitality.

Bonny Nichol

BA Architecture (’11)

Bonny Nichol currently serves as a Senior Digital Engineer at Laing O’Rourke Construction in London, developing automation design tools and performing construction data analytics.

A 2011 graduate of UT’s College of Art and Architecture, Nichol is a New York State Licensed Architect. With over 12 years of experience focusing on digital technologies, she previously served as an architect at CetraRuddy Architecture in New York City, integral in constructing high-rise hospitality, commercial, and residential buildings. Prior to her current position, Nichol served as a Design Technologist Lead at WeWork in NYC, a BIM Specialist/Computational Designer at Hugh Dutton Associates in Paris, and a Design Technologist at Gensler in London. Additionally, Nichol participated in a professional collaboration with Noumena Studio for virtual reality research in Barcelona.

Now she currently serves as a lecturer at Ecole des Ponts Paristech for the Digital Building Design Advanced Master’s Degree program in Paris. Nichol attained an Advanced Master’s Degree from Ecole des Ponts Paristech in computational design and is also a graduate of the Flatiron School Data Science Program.

She is currently a candidate for a Master of Science in Software Engineering at The University of Oxford, New College and expects to graduate in 2025.

Eugene Overton

BS Business Administration (’09)

Eugene Overton obtained his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2009 with a concentration in business management and supply chain from UT. He went on to earn his MBA in global supply chain management with a concentration in international business.

Throughout his career he has held key senior managerial positions at companies such as Google, Amazon, Home Depot, and Walmart. In his most recent role with Amazon he served as Senior Supply Chain Execution Manager, where he led the effort to optimize the layout of the grocery fulfillment network across the globe.

Overton also holds international business experience in China, the United Kingdom, South America, and Southeast Asia, while remaining a member of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.

He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc, an organization whose cardinal principles have established within him community, connectivity, and a drive to uplift others.

Brigitte Passman

BS Agriculture Leadership, Education, and Communication (’17)
MS (’20)

Brigitte Passman is currently employed as County Director and 4-H Youth Development Agent for the University of Tennessee, Tipton County Extension.

As an undergraduate, Passman served as an RA and a UT Extension Intern for Agriculture and Natural Resources before graduating with her bachelor’s degree in 2017 and master’s degree in 2020. She began working as a UT Extension Agent in Tipton County, TN in 2017, focusing on the 4-H Youth Development program.

Passman has been involved with numerous councils and committees, serving as Community Service Chairman for the NAE4-HA National Conference and Committee Member on advancing an informal STEM learning grant proposal group, to name a few. Passman has obtained numerous awards and accolades, some of which include UT’s Ann and Bill Hicks Outstanding New Extension Worker Award, TAE4-HW state communicator of the year, and the NAE4-HYDP National Award for Excellence in Healthy Living Programming.

Passman is also one of the many illustrators for Elaine Watkins’ children’s book Sherbet the Worm.

Tiaera Pritchett

BA Psychology (’06)
MS Social Work (’09)

Tiaera Pritchett is a two-time UT graduate, earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2006 and her master’s degree in social work in 2009.

Pritchett holds over 14 years of experience in the mental health field as a licensed therapist and has been a keynote speaker nationwide on bringing education and awareness to mental health. She is currently the co-owner of the two-fold company All Things Fit, which focuses on unifying health with psychology and physicality.

She also cocreated FIIT Families, a nonprofit organization which assists lower-income families in need of therapy, nutritional coaching, and a personal fitness coach at no cost.

Her desire to help people transcend from merely coexisting with their traumas to becoming the healthiest versions of themselves encouraged her to create Truth Moment, a TV and radio broadcast that has thousands of viewers and listeners worldwide.

Pritchett is also a host on the Uncensored Wellness podcast, bringing a humorous realness to mental and physical health.

Darryl Richmond

BA Interdisciplinary Studies (’11)

Darryl Richmond, Jr. currently serves as the owner and CEO director of Motion Rx Sports Medicine Physical Therapy in Dallas, TX. As a healthcare and rehabilitation leader, he serves as a clinical instructor for the American Physical Therapy Association and a Licensed Study Partner for the NPTE board examination.

A few of his volunteer efforts include serving with International Service Learning, the Black Men in White Coats organization, and free clinics for low-income or disadvantaged community members.

In addition to earning his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from UT in 2011, Richmond is a graduate of Hampton University in Biomedical Science and Doctor of Physical Therapy. As an undergraduate student, he remained highly involved in various areas of campus, some of which include the Me4UT Minority Recruitment Program, the Frieson Black Cultural Center work study program, and the Overcoming Believers Church/East Knoxville initiative. In addition to serving as a MAPS student advisor, Richmond was a UT Pledge Scholarship recipient.

He strives to implement the Volunteer spirit in each interaction and endeavor with which he is involved. Believing his most valuable resources to be his time and voice, Richmond exercises them by promoting both recognized and unrecognized service and philanthropy.

George Shields

BA History and Political Science (’07)
JD (’14)

George Shields currently serves as a staff attorney for the City of Knoxville, responsible for representing the city in litigation and advising the mayor and other city officials, departments, boards, and agencies.

Additionally, Shields is a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve. An Iraq War veteran, he has been a United States Air Force officer since 2007, with active duty service from 2007 to 2011 and reserve service since 2011.

Shields obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from UT in 2007 and graduated from UT cum laude with his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2014.

Highly involved with the Boy Scouts of America, Shields has served as a scout leader at the unit, council, and national levels. He has also acted as a pro bono attorney for the Great Smoky Mountain Council, East Tennessee’s local Boy Scouts council. As a descendant of the historic Cades Cove community of Blount County, Tennessee, Shields is active in Cades Cove historical research and preservation. He is a former member and president of the UT Young Alumni Council, the UT Task Force in Support of Student Veterans, and a member of the UT Alumni Legislative Council. He has been married to UT alumna Jordan Frye Shields since 2020.

Kimberly Smith

BA French and World Business (’11)
MBA Marketing and Entrepreneurship (’16)

Kimberly Smith currently serves as a Community Conservation Specialist for The Wilderness Society, a nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to protecting natural areas and federal public lands in the United States.

Smith also owns Tali Elohi, or Two Worlds, a business which provides consulting services and promotes indigenous cultures.

As a citizen of the Eastern band of the Cherokee, Smith strives to use her voice for the voiceless and speak up for those who are not being heard.

A two-time UT graduate, Smith received her bachelor’s degree in French and business in 2011 and her master’s degree in marketing and entrepreneurship in 2016. She has also been involved in numerous community service efforts, some of which include nomination for the 2019 and 2020 Leadership TN Program, membership in the 2021 Leadership Knoxville Program, and participation in the Nikwasi Initiative as a founding board member.

She currently serves in many volunteer and committee roles, such as Knoxville Montessori School Expansion Committee member, EBCI Cherokee Beloved Women Committee member, and EBCI Right Path Adult Leadership to name a few.

In addition to promoting Native American culture by facilitating two UT football halftime shows, she has organized pop-up performances with Yo-Yo Ma on campus to highlight connections between land and music.

Christopher Tate

BS Physics (’10)
MS (’12)
PhD (’17)

Christopher Tate is currently employed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory in National Security Sciences where he contributes to national security missions and projects, guides student interns in research, and composes scientific journal publications.

Born in Murfreesboro, TN, and raised in Woodbury, TN, Tate is the son of two UT graduates. Tate received the honor of magna cum laude upon graduating from UT in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. While attaining a UT master’s degree in physics, Tate was able to participate in several projects for NASA, including Mars Science Laboratory, Life in the Atacama (LiTA Mars rover analog mission), and the SiNGR prototype instrument.

Furthermore, he obtained his PhD in physics from UT in 2017. During graduate school, Tate received multiple NASA science and operation team awards, as well as UT’s Earth and Planetary Science Interdisciplinary Research Award, and produced numerous scientific articles and presentations.

Lance Taylor

BS Marketing and Logistics (’09)
MS Human Resource Management (’16)

Lance Taylor is all-Vol, having spent his 14-year career at UT Knoxville. Currently, he serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the Division of Enrollment Management. In this position, he is responsible for creating and fostering strong internal and external partnerships to support the work of the Vice Provost, the enrollment management division, and the university.

Prior to his current position, he served as the Executive Director of Advancement Operations, where he managed the operations and administration of the UT Knoxville Advancement division.

Taylor earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing and logistics, as well as a master’s degree in human resources management, both from UT.

During his undergraduate senior year, he was named a Torchbearer recipient—the highest student honor conferred by UT Knoxville. Taylor is married to his wife, Anne, and has two kids, Bradley and Emilia.

Tramell Tillman

MFA Theatre (’14)

Tramell Tillman pursued acting after graduating from UT in 2014 with a master’s in fine arts. At the top of his class, Tillman was selected as a “UT Student to Watch” by the College of Arts and Sciences. He was one of the first African American male graduates of UT’s MFA acting program, and Tillman landed his first casting for a TV show four years after graduating.

He was most recently cast in the TV show Severance, which has earned the attention of fans and critics alike. Tillman has acted with legend Al Pacino in Hunters and appeared on Broadway in The Great Society.

He has also guest lectured for UT’s Diverse Plays and Playwrights class, led career development seminars for UT Theatre, and participated in the Class of 2020 Virtual Alma Mater. Tillman was cast for theatre roles in New York, Washington D.C., Cincinnati, and Oregon, and his performance in Carmen Jones won an AUDELCO award for Best Featured Actor.

He’s also an active advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, mental health awareness, and suicide prevention, involved with organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; New Alternatives, a supportive safe space for LGBTQ+ homeless youth in New York City; and Behind the Book, a reading and critical thinking program for 5th to 12th grade students. He aspires to provide a platform to challenge and change troubled communities.

Isabel Tipton-Krispin

BA Theatre (’15)

Isabel Tipton-Krispin holds over nine years of experience in the nonprofit arts industry and currently serves as the Executive Managing Director of the Nashville Shakespeare Festival.

Tipton-Krispin was formerly the Senior Manager of Board Engagement and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Staff Lead at Nashville Ballet.

A Racial Equity in Arts Leadership program alumna, Tipton-Krispin has served on the Metro Arts Committee for Antiracism and Equity and is currently a Nashville Arts Coalition board member. She was a 2022 finalist for the Nashville Emerging Leader Awards in the Arts, Music, and Entertainment category and formerly served as the co-president of the Emerge America’s Young Leaders Cabinet and Volunteer Field Director for Elizabeth Madeira’s 2020 state house campaign in Tennessee District 63.

Tipton-Krispin graduated from UT in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre, with a focus in sound design, and holds a Graduate Certificate in Arts Administration from University of Connecticut. She participated in over 20 productions as a UT student, sound designing, sound engineering, and live mixing several productions at the Clarence Brown Theatre.

Evan Tuck

BA History (’14)
JD (’17)

Born at UT Medical Center and raised by a UT alum in Maryville, TN, Evan Tuck is a lifelong Vols fan. Although Tuck attended UT sporting events from an early age, he didn’t meet his wife, Cameron, until their last semester of college at a basketball game. Tuck graduated summa cum laude from UT in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in history and immediately entered UT’s College of Law and graduated in 2017. He was also a UT AFROTC Detachment 800 graduate in 2017, commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, and received the detachment’s peer-nominated hall of fame award.

While serving on active duty in the US Air Force JAG Corps as a Major, Tuck was competitively selected by the JAG Corps to attend a Master of Laws program at George Washington University this past year. Tuck graduated with an LLM in Energy and Environmental Law in May 2023 and accepted an offer to publish his thesis in the Stanford Environmental Law Journal in March 2024, one of the preeminent environmental legal publications in the nation. He will continue serving on active duty until at least 2026.

However, his long-term plan is to settle back in the Knoxville area and join the TN Air National Guard while working in public service as an environmental lawyer.

John Tupps

BA Communications (’07)

John Tupps currently serves as the Economic Development Manager for Monolith Materials, a clean tech company that produces both clean hydrogen and clean carbon black. Tupps ensures that the organization remains on the cutting-edge of the country’s energy transition from carbon-intensive fossil fuels by developing policy, interacting with elected officials, and aiding Monolith’s creation of community-sustaining jobs.

After graduating from UT with his bachelor’s degree in communications, Tupps spent over ten years serving in the public sector. He held key roles including State Director for US Senator Rick Scott, Communications Director and Press Secretary during Scott’s two terms as Governor of Florida, Deputy Chief of Staff for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Vice President of Government Affairs for Visit Florida.

Prior to his current position, Tupps served as Senior Director of Communications and Government Affairs for Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, where he managed public relations for the company.

Tupps is a proud Army brat, having lived in Belgium and Germany as a child. He, his wife Emily, and their two young daughters are proud to call Knoxville home, loving life in East Tennessee and remaining close to Tupps’ alma mater.

Heather Waliga

BS Journalism and Electronic Media (’06)

Heather Waliga is currently a morning anchor on WBIR-TV in Knoxville, TN.

After graduating from UT with her bachelor’s degree in communication and information in 2006, Waliga worked at WJHG in Panama City, FL, where she was recognized at the Florida AP awards for best investigative reporting, best spot news story, and individual achievement. Waliga received numerous coverage opportunities as a Primary Weekday Anchor at News 14 Carolina in Charlotte, NC. There she achieved numerous career milestones, a few of which include becoming the youngest primary anchor in the station’s history to-date, co-hosting a live Emmy-winning broadcast of the 2012 Miss North Carolina pageant, and presenting live coverage of the sentencing of the Zahra Baker murder trial. In addition to serving as a Newsroom Diversity Council Leader, Waliga won two RTDNAC awards for best health-medicine report. As a Weekend Evening Anchor and Reporter for WTVD-TV in Raleigh/Durham, NC, Waliga was able to cover three NCAA championships, deliver live coverage of the Charlotte Riot, and deliver live coverage from the red carpet of the 50th Annual CMA Awards in Nashville.

Waliga currently anchors weekday newscasts from 4:30-7:00 am and weekday newscasts on Fox43 News, 7:00-9:00 am. She most recently earned a TN AP award in Public Affairs for her “Live A Little” series.

Josh Ward

BS Journalism and Electronic Media (’07)

Josh Ward has hosted a daily talk show for 99.1 The Sports Animal since 2008, the year after he graduated from UT with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and electronic media. He currently hosts the show Josh and Swain with VFL and former UT wide receiver Jayson Swain, which received over 1 million podcast downloads within a year.

Ward has acted as a fixture in the sports and Knoxville community for nearly 22 years. Ward began producing the highly rated show, SportsTalk, as a senior in high school and continued working at the station while attending UT. He strives to connect with East Tennessee sports fans through his involvement with WATE-TV; his daily podcast, Locked On Vols, the most downloaded college show on the Locked On Podcast Network; and his coverage of Tennessee football recruiting for the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Ward also uses his platform to serve local organizations. His work with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society earned him the “Man of the Year” honor, while the collective 10-week campaign raised over $150,000 for LLS. Additionally, he raised over $10,000 in 2020 during a 10-day campaign for Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, earning the campaign’s Hunger Action Hero honor and being named Friend of the Year for Second Harvest.

Keong Min Yoon

BS Business Administration (’13)

Keong Min Yoon currently provides legal counsel at the World Bank and has dedicated his career to supporting developing countries with legal and policy reforms for creating a digital economy and protecting human rights.

An internationally recognized expert, Yoon’s fields of knowledge include data privacy, cybersecurity, and e-commerce. He has provided legal and policy support to over 30 developing countries by leveraging technology to transform economies and improve citizens’ lives. He has advised governments, policymakers, and stakeholders on the best practices for data protection, cybersecurity, and e-commerce.

Yoon’s contributions to the cybersecurity field have allowed him to speak at high-level events around the world, including the United Nations, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and INTERPOL.

Frank Zimmerer

BA Music Education and Studio Music/Jazz (’11)

Frank Zimmerer currently serves as the Director of Bands at Antioch High School, part of the Metropolitan Nashville Public School System.

In addition to acquiring his bachelor’s degree in music education and studio music/jazz, Zimmerer was an Honor Graduate in the School of Music, an Undergraduate Assistant for the Pride of the Southland Marching Band, and the President of C-MENC/NafME during his time at UT.

Furthering his education, Zimmerer received his master’s degree in jazz studies from Florida State University through a full-tuition graduate teaching assistantship and earned both his Education Specialist Degree and Doctorate in Education from Trevecca Nazarene University.

Prior to his current position, Zimmerer served as the Director of Bands at East Nashville Magnet High School and Middle School.

His career is accompanied by numerous awards and accolades, including Antioch High School Teacher of The Year, CMA Teacher of Excellence, and MNPS Blue Ribbon Teacher. He has undertaken many roles, including MNPS Middle School Summer Band Camp Director, MNPS Performing Arts Curriculum and Textbook Adoption Committee Member, Tennessee Music Education Association State Jazz Project Chair, Tennessee Music Education Association Equity in Music Committee Inaugural Member, Stars and Stripes Tour Director, and Local, Regional, State, and National Clinician for Jazz Ensemble, Urban Education, and Music Education.

Through his passion for Title I schools with diverse student populations, Zimmerer has raised over $80,000 in grants for underserved high school music programs.