Student Spotlight

Anna Franklin is from Strawberry Plains, TN majoring in Communication Studies with a Geography minor. “My involvements on campus include serving as an Honors Ambassador, being a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, and conducting independent research on severe weather preparedness on campus. After graduation, I will be launching my own preparedness…

  Hannah Dimon is a senior Communication Studies major with a minor in Tourism and Hospitality Management from Horseheads, New York. “Upon my arrival at UTK, I was unsure what I wanted my future to entail after graduation. However, I quickly realized that Communication Studies was the right start. During my time as a CMST…

  McKenzie Patterson is passionate about helping others and assisting individuals with financial needs. She also enjoys expanding her knowledge and working towards specific goals. She is determined to expand her career path and network through education and personal experience. McKenzie said she thrives best in solo projects but is also able to progress and…

  Olivia Forsythe is a senior Communication Studies major with a minor in Tourism and Hospitality Management from Memphis, Tennessee. “What brought me to UTK 3 years ago was the overwhelming amount of school pride that made this university feel like a tight-knit family. To be 6 hours away from my home, the university has…

My name is Daniel Mark Sassone, I’m from Easton, Pennsylvania. I spent 13 years on Active Duty with the United States Army as a Military Policeman, I finished another two years on inactive duty and completed my official retirement on 15 April 2020. I enrolled at the University of Tennessee for the Fall 2018 semester…

Vikesh Desai is a transfer student from Tanzania, East Africa, and also lived in India for 6 years where he was attending school for his Bachelors in Electronics and Communications Engineering. “Three years ago when I got the opportunity to come to the United States to start a new life, I did not give it…

Gabrielle, a senior in Communication Studies, has attributed her colorful academic journey to “an expertise in life skills.” As an Eastern Tennessee native, she started at East Tennessee State University to navigate psychology, philosophy, and interior design. After her move to Knoxville in 2018, she was accepted into University of Tennessee and found her trifecta…

“As a first generation college student, I came to UT overwhelmingly nervous, excited, and anxious to experience the opportunities the next four years would present. Beginning college without a career objective or deliberate path forward, a conversation with a friend’s mom who works in corporate events in Nashville led me to the Communication Studies program,…