Student Ambassador Profile

Aritra is a fourth year doctoral candidate in the College of Social Work at University of Tennessee with a strong focus on global public health issues. Aritra completed his Master’s in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai, India) with specialization in Public Health in 2017. Aritra is a soccer, cricket and other…

Namrata is a final-year PhD candidate with her research focusing on social connections in aging. She is a social worker from India who has the experience of working with diverse communities. She has specialized in community organization and uses her skills to build connections.   Namrata loves to explore different cultures and cuisines and believes that cultures are…

Kenyette S. Garrett, LCSW, is a third-year PhD student at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work. Her research is centered on investigating the experiences of Black students in orchestral music education through a social justice lens. Additionally, she is deeply committed to improving the experiences of Black women in doctoral programs and investigating the impact…

Zak is a third-year PhD student from Plainfield, Illinois. He previously graduated from the University of Michigan with a MSW with a concentration in program evaluation and applied research. During his time at the University of Michigan, he worked both with the Program Evaluation Group (PEG) and did his field placement at the Center on Assets, Education, and…

Cat Steele is a student in the Online Master of Social Work program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is also a program coordinator for the local Community Action Committee. The online program has allowed her the freedom to continue working full-time while obtaining an education. Being a Knoxville native has provided her with…

Caroline Beckman is a second year student in the part time online MSSW program at UTK. She is on the clinical track and hopes to pursue the LCSW licensure after graduation and work in a non-profit setting. She is currently living in New Haven, CT and works at the Yale School of the Environment, but…

Vallee is a sophomore in the BSSW program at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. She was born and raised in Knoxville. She is the president of our student ran Bachelor’s of Social Work club, BSWO. Vallee wants to do macro social work. She hopes to focus on community health or anything involving nonprofit work. Her…

Sequoia is an MSSW student from Knoxville. She transferred from Pellissippi State Community College in August of 2023. Her favorite thing about UTK’s social work program is the accepting and open-minded peers and professors she has interacted with. She became passionate about social work during her time working at KARM Stores in high school. She…

Karley is a transfer BSSW student from Alcoa, TN. She obtained her associate degree in social work from Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge in December 2023. Her favorite part of the social work program is that everyone that is in your class on the first day will be in every class with you…

Emily is a third-year BSSW student with a minor in Child and Family Studies at the University of Tennessee. She was recently chosen to be Secretary for the Bachelor’s Social Work Organization. She is a part of a few other organizations around campus. One of her favorite things she does is peer-mentor for the FUTURE program,…