Congratulations to the class of 2025. Their hard work, determination, and perseverance paid off. These 2025 graduates embody what it means to be a volunteer. Read about some of these amazing students, who are soon to be UTCSW alums.
MSSW Nashville
Bushra Alammouri
Nashville, TN
What makes this student stand out among other graduates from UT? Bushra is a dedicated student, a curious learner, and an engaged social work practitioner.
What has the student been involved in, and what unique opportunities have they had at UT? Bushra has been interning at Nashville Children’s Alliance. She has been able to work within an interdisciplinary team and provide social work insight on cases. At her internship, she is co-leading a caregiver support group. Additionally, she is applying elements of play therapy in sessions with clients including art activities, and sand trays. She is a member of the Vanderbilt Interprofessional Health Education Collaborative (VIPHEC).
What will this student be doing after graduation? Following graduation, Bushra plans to get her LMSW. She will also be applying for social work positions in Nashville. Her internships have confirmed that she enjoys working with children, teens, college students, and parents. She hopes to continue to offer trauma-informed therapy services. Additionally, as a native Arabic speaker, she would love to provide therapy services in Arabic. She recognizes that for many BIPOC individuals, there are barriers and stigmas surrounding therapy. She hopes to help reduce stigmas while providing psychoeducation and upholding cultural humility. She plans to explore roles that will provide her with the opportunity to utilize her unique skillset while working with clients.
BSSW Knoxville
Nella Atchley
Corryton, Tennessee
What makes this student stand out among other graduates from UT? Nella is an honors BSSW student and social justice minor who has been involved with several research projects during their time at UT. During sophomore year, Nella completed an independent study under Ph.D. student Kiki Kline that focused on stigma related to binge eating disorders. During Junior year, Nella completed a research assistantship under Dr. Gretchen Ely that focused on creating a disaster reproductive mental health model for those in the Appalachian and Mississippi Delta regions. This year, Nella has been working on their own research project for Dr. Nugent’s class, which is a descriptive study of demographic data from a local syringe services program. Nella’s field placement is with the City of Knoxville at the Police Advisory and Review Committee (PARC), which has allowed them to foster meaningful relationships with many different people in the local government and organizations that operate in the city. During their time with PARC, Nella has also been able to engage in policy practice through policy recommendations that have been forwarded to KPD. Nella has also been able to be out in the community more this semester, as PARC has been engaging with many more local organizations such as Knox Pride and Centro Hispano.
What has the student been involved in, and what unique opportunities have they had at UT? Nella has been involved with several first-generation events and BSSWO during their time at UT. They have also had the opportunity to be a UTCSW representative for the office of donor relations and have had their story sent to potential UT donors and alumni. Nella also works at the Law Library on campus, which has provided a job in a subject area they are interested in where they can also work on their research project during most shifts.
What will this student be doing after graduation? Nella hopes to continue their education at UT and complete their MSSW with a concentration in organizational leadership. Straight out of college, Nella will likely work at a substance use treatment clinic in Knoxville, but down the line would like to operate their own syringe services program in the Southern Appalachian region. Nella is a strong advocate for the harm reduction framework, and would like to see it further implemented in the Appalachian region because this area has historically been underserved and drug use is so prevalent in the region. Nella wants to be able to give back to the region that they call home.
MSSW Knoxville
Austin Bartlett
Orem, Utah
What makes this student stand out among other graduates from UT? Austin is incredibly enthusiastic. There is a lot of enjoyment that comes out of what seems like the mundane or simple parts of life, and being able to invite others into that space has allowed him to connect with others in meaningful ways.
What has the student been involved in, and what unique opportunities have they had at UT? Austin is currently involved as a case manager providing housing services for individuals experiencing homelessness with the McNabb Center. He has currently developed a more comprehensive workflow/ resources packet for community members in the area to provide comprehensive assistance to the clients. This has come as a result of UT’s assistance in guiding him toward an internship opportunity that fit what he was looking for as a social worker.
What will this student be doing after graduation? Austin wants to pursue a fundraising job position to start his career as a macro social worker.
MSSW Nashville
Claire Elisabeth Brantley
St. Louis, MO & Nashville, TN
What makes this student stand out among other graduates from UT? Claire is a scholar, a researcher, and a practitioner. She blends her passions into a robust lens through which to view social work practice. Claire has sought leadership, research, and practice opportunities above and beyond class requirements.
What has the student been involved in, and what unique opportunities have they had at UT? Claire was president of UTK Phi Alpha Social Work Honors Society, served as a graduate student senator as the Nashville campus MSSW representative, was a participant in the Interprofessional Medical Education & Chronic Illness Management (IPE-CIM) Program with Vanderbilt Nursing, Belmont School of Law, Lipscomb School of Pharmacy, and UT College of Social Work, was a participant in Vanderbilt Interprofessional Health Educational Collaborative (VIPHEC), maintained 4.0 GPA across all courses, including taking course overloads, did an independent study summer research course with Dr. Teri Abrams, which involved IRB-approved mixed-methods research and a week at a burn survivor youth camp.
What will this student be doing after graduation? After graduation, Claire plans to work as a medical social worker in an acute care setting and obtain LCSW supervision and licensure while continuing their research focused on the intersection of social work and public health. Claire intends to study public health at the doctoral level with the goal of researching/consulting on/instructing interprofessional trauma-informed care in acute inpatient settings while practicing as a clinical social worker. Claire hopes to focus on improving trauma-informed care for patients and families in inpatient burn clinics and identifying best practices for interprofessional medical teams in acute care settings.
MSSW Knoxville
Rachel Burke
Sevierville, TN
What makes this student stand out among other graduates from UT? What sets Rachel apart is her desire for both macro and micro social work. She does not believe in the separation of these fields, and cannot choose either for the life she wants. She has made a commitment to never limit her learning by building skills in both areas through the Advanced Standing program and Organizational Leadership concentration.
What has the student been involved in, and what unique opportunities have they had at UT? Rachel has been involved in all things aging this past year at Franklin & Kyle Elder Law. Rachel Ross at UT connected her to this unique placement, and she has been able to see and participate in all sides of the elder care continuum since. She is also getting her gerontology certificate, and the coursework and professors in that program have sharpened and expanded her practice with older adults that she wouldn’t have had otherwise.
What will this student be doing after graduation? After graduation, Rachel will be living in Knoxville and building her niche with older adults. She wants to explore a mix of macro and micro social work skills through a job in the senior care industry.
MSSW Online
Alison Flanigan
Lake Placid, NY
What makes this student stand out among other graduates from UT? Alison is a veterinarian who has been practicing for 26 years and will retire this year and focus on veterinary social work. She is also grateful for her amazing concentration field placement with UT alum Augusta O’Reilly, the embedded veterinary social worker at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, supporting students, interns, and residents.
What has the student been involved in and what unique opportunities have they had at UT? UT has given her the unique opportunity to grow and expand her mind and perspective as an adult student. She has evolved in the last four years of her part-time program in ways she never thought possible. She is proud to be considered a social worker; in the company of some of the most motivated, ethical, and moral change agents around.
What will this student be doing after graduation? Alison will continue her work as a veterinary social worker, focused on supporting the mental health and well-being of veterinary professionals and students.
PhD
SangWon Lee
South Korea
What makes this student stand out among other graduates from UT? SangWon is an international PhD student from South Korea who started off in the medical field and then switched to social work in graduate school due to her commitment to research that contributes to improving life for people with disabilities. She has been an exceptional student who has served the college in ways such as being the student member of the PhD committee. She is doing research on how climate change impacts vulnerable populations, and she has accepted a faculty position at an R1-level, SEC university.
What has the student been involved in, and what unique opportunities have they had at UT? SangWon has been involved in serving on the PhD student group, the PhD committee, and she has taught independently and provided guest lectures. She is a true Vol for Life, and her enthusiasm for the UTCSW is expected to continue well into her career after graduation.
What will this student be doing after graduation? She has obtained a faculty job with a university in the SEC.
DSW
Brian Nystrom
Andover, MN
What makes this student stand out among other graduates from UT: He has made significant contributions to addressing domestic violence in his community. He started an agency to address interpersonal violence (IPV). His research project is “A Trend Analysis of Intimate Partner Homicide-Suicide (IPHS) from 2018-2022.” He is a man who takes IPV very seriously.
What has the student been involved in, and what unique opportunities have they had at UT: He is a student who is fully committed to lifelong learning. He is committed to the success of his fellow students in the cohort.
What will this student be doing after graduation: No doubt Brian will be doing something generative and will make a positive impact in this world.
BSSW Knoxville
Jonathan Stokes
Baltimore, Maryland
What makes this student stand out among other graduates from UT? Jonathan is a nontraditional veteran student who is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in social work. Jonathan feels that his personal journey of recovery has profoundly shaped his perspective, aligning closely with the core values of social work and strengthening his commitment to the field. Through learning and the act of employing empathetic interpersonal communication, John discovered a truth about his life: his recovery is based on a shift towards connection and empathy, not coincidentally, this is an essential element for helping others. In addition to his academic pursuits, Jonathan is actively involved with Rocky Top Recovery where he gained valuable training and recently became a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS). He is an ambassador for the program and actively recruits to help it grow.
What has the student been involved in, and what unique opportunities have they had at UT? Jonathan serves as a Rocky Top Recovery ambassador where he facilitates meetings that embody and uphold social work values. In this role, he not only supports his peers in their recovery journeys but also integrates his personal experiences with his growing understanding of social work ethics and principles.
What will this student be doing after graduation? Jonathan has applied to continue his social work education in the Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program at UT. He is deeply passionate about the engagement skills he has learned as an undergraduate student and is excited to expand his knowledge through clinical practice. Through the MSSW program, Jonathan looks forward to deepening his ability to support individuals and communities by refining his skills to make a meaningful impact in the field of social work.