By Vivian DiSalvo (Class of 2026)
Just graduated? Well, your alumni family has your back.
With opportunities to build your resume, expand your network, and pursue volunteer leadership opportunities, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is committed to forging the next generation of professionals, and that starts with alumni like you.
By staying engaged within the Volunteer community, you can fuel your personal and professional life, forge new relationships that push you to grow, and help advance the university. With your continued involvement, UT retains an expansive network of alumni, students, and staff that creates a mutually beneficial relationship between the university and all Vols where everyone has the space, and community, to thrive.
Stay Involved as Alumni and Build Leadership Skills
There are many different engagement opportunities for alumni, giving you avenues to bear the torch for your fellow Vols.
The UT alumni family stretches across the US and to nearly 150 countries. With 43 chapters and 67 area representatives around the world, you can find alumni and chapters near you to stay involved.
The Volunteer family has your back, even after you graduate.
To expand the Big Orange, you can also become the alumni area representative for your area. Vols can be found in every state, and alumni area representatives help those Vols stay connected, even if a chapter is not in close proximity.
The Young Alumni Council is made up of 42 young alumni who are passionate about advancing the university, enriching the lives of students and fellow graduates, and serving their alma mater in a meaningful volunteer leadership role. Members represent the university as ambassadors, advance UT and invest in current students, and help create the next generation of alumni leaders. Applications to join the 2026 new member class of the council close Friday, May 29. Any alumni who graduated between 2016 and 2026 are eligible.
In addition, there are several other UT special interest alumni councils which can help you continue leading on Rocky Top.
If you just graduated, be sure to update your contact information to keep up with everything UT. You’ll lose access to your UT email account one year after graduation. If you graduated before 2026 and have had a change in your contact information, you can always update it here.
Resume and Education Resources
Looking to broaden your education and enhance your resume? Your UT community is ready to help.
Members of UT’s alumni association receive several resources for fine-tuning their resumes and exploring career choices, including one-on-one career coaching appointments, access to personalized PathwayU personality reports, an Occupational Outlook handbook for learning about projected growth in a specific degree field, and more.
Alumni also have access to LinkedIn Learning for one year after graduation. You can use LinkedIn Learning to continue building skills and exploring career paths while you make the leap from college to full-time work, graduate school, or any other next step.
Explore new passions and learn new skills with UT’s continued education program. From canine rehabilitation to cooking classes to photography, there’s something for everyone who has a drive to keep learning.
Build Your UT Network
Connecting with professionals in your field can be a great way to accelerate your career. UT offers several different ways to expand your network.
The alumni events page is full of opportunities to network with fellow alumni and professionals, including this summer’s Vols in the City events. Hosted across the state in Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis, these events are designed to help young alumni connect with fellow Vols in their area.
Alumni can also take advantage of ConnectUT, an online platform where you can find UT alumni in your field and in your area. It’s completely free to send them a message, request mentorship, and view their career paths.
Explore UT’s LinkedIn page to find fellow alumni with similar interests or careers.
Stay Involved
UT supports you throughout your education, but also on your journey after. There is no end to being a Vol, and the Vol community will always be there to support you!
Find all these resources and more at UT’s alumni site, and if you’re a new graduate, start with our Young Alumni section.
