Hi, my name is Ali. I am a sophomore and I have grown to become very involved on campus. My favorite part of being a student at UT is going to the sporting events, but specifically the football games. In my free time I love to walk the green spaces in Knoxville, get food with friends, and paint.

Hometown

Kennett Square, PA

Major(s)

Marketing

Minor(s)

Sustainability

Clubs, organizations & involvement

I am on the executive board of Letters of Love, a member of Phi Mu Fraternity, Professional Sales Club, Eighteen Twenty, and I’m eager to keep expanding my involvement. I also had the privilege of working at Hodges Library freshman year.

Describe your college experience

I came from a small town in Pennsylvania and decided to make a big jump to a huge out of state school. I wasn’t expecting such a big jump to feel so seamless. My professors went above and beyond to help me navigate freshman year, both academically and around the campus itself. I also found it very easy to become involved on campus between clubs, Greek life, and community service. UTK has become my second home and I couldn’t be happier with my decision to come here.

Tip for future students

One piece of advice is to be friendly and social with your classmates. That way you can build your network and take advantage of being at such a large school. It also becomes super helpful with group work and just having a support system overall. A good amount of my relationships rooted from just a simple “Hi” in my classes.

Favorite class

My favorite class was BUAD 100, which is a first year business class for most business majors. I loved my professor and she helped turn it into a very interactive and helpful class. We learned a lot about Knoxville, how to stay up to date on LinkedIn and Handshake, and more.

Career goals

I hope to join the marketing team at a successful company where I can combine creativity with strategy. I also have a passion for environmental science, so finding a role that allows me to merge marketing with sustainability would be my dream career.

Ideal way to spend a free night

My ideal way to spend a free night is to go on a walk through Sequoyah Hills, followed by dinner at sunspot, and watching Tennessee Sports with all my friends. The Greenway actually connects campus to a bunch of off campus locations, for shopping, scenery, and restaurants.

High school or secondary school

Kennett High School

Favorite spot on campus

My favorite location on campus is the Student Union. Students tend to call it the STU and it’s a place were students can eat, study, and socialize. It’s my favorite location because it overlooks Neyland Stadium and has a Chick-fil-A on the second floor. I usually go there between classes to get a quick meal and finish up homework. I also like it because I usually run into someone I know and it’s nice to have a buddy to eat and study with as well.