KAMAH KARYEAH, BSSW
BSSW graduate Kamah Karyeah was one of 10 seniors chosen to receive the Torchbearer award, the university’s highest undergraduate student honor, which reflects demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to service and leadership.
Karyeah was also a member of Air Force ROTC, where she had the responsibility for the training and well-being of 50 first-year cadets as a basic cadet group commander. She was also an honors student and completed over 300 hours of student internship work through the college at Knoxville’s Austin-East Magnet High School. Karyeah was involved with Emerging Leaders, Leadership Knoxville Scholars, the Multicultural Mentoring Program, and the Global Citizens Program. She was a UTCSW student ambassador, a resident assistant in Brown Hall, and served as an Ignite team leader. Karyeah originally considered studying psychology to work in mental health and counseling until she learned about UT’s social work program. She completed the Air Force ROTC program upon graduation. She will be stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, working as a public affairs officer on a four-year contract.
MACKENZIE (KENZIE) WRIGHT, MSSW
Kenzie Wright is a passionate and dedicated student currently pursuing a Master of Science in Social Work
(MSSW) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminology, Law and Society from George Mason University, where she developed a strong interest in the intersections of trauma, systemic inequality, and the criminal justice system. Originally from Lee County, Virginia, Wright grew up on a farm and is proud of her rural Appalachian roots, which have shaped her strong work ethic and deep sense of empathy for underserved communities.
Wright is passionate about creating equitable systems of support and hopes to one day influence policy at the macro level to better protect and empower marginalized communities. She is especially interested in using social work as a tool for systemic change through advocacy, public policy, and community-driven initiatives.
A fun fact about Wright is that she has 10 dogs back home in Virginia, and a cat named Winnie that lives in Knoxville with her! On top of her love for animals, she also loves to travel and has a goal to travel to 30 countries before she turns 30. (She is currently at 11 countries.)
JAE LEE, DSW
Jae Lee is a third-year student in the Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program at the UT College of Social Work. He is a U.S. Army Veteran, holds a BA in Asian Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MSSW from the same. Lee chose the UTCSW for his DSW due to its reputation in social work academia and commitment to anti-oppressive practices.
Currently working at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas, as a psychotherapist, the facility provides treatment and support such as therapy, alternative treatments, and medications when needed. They help veterans by offering consultation, evaluation, and treatment to help with a range of mental and behavioral health problems such as depression, anxiety, addictive behaviors and substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and combat-related stress disorder.
Lee notes that obtaining his DSW, along with his training in translational research and transformative practices, will help to advance his career with the VA. He credits the great combination of research and practice courses as one of his favorite parts of the program.
ELIZA GALVEZ, PhD
Eliza Galvez has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgia State University and a master’s degree in social work from Kennesaw State University. Galvez was originally born in New Jersey, and she later moved to Georgia, where she was raised in a Peruvian household.
Galvez is a first-generation college graduate with practice experience centered on addressing the mental healthcare needs of marginalized groups, primarily Latinos and people who are low-income, within nonprofit agencies and health systems. She has also worked as a research assistant, where she has contributed to program evaluations and research on racial and ethnic disparities in child development, healthcare, and education. She believes research is the foundation for knowing what is necessary to help those in need. Her research interests include adolescent and child trauma, racial and ethnic minority populations, and mental health prevention and intervention.