Director of Enrollment Services champions access to higher education and meaningful student experiences at Herbert

Where are you from, and how did your education and career lead you to the Herbert College of Agriculture?

I am from Kingston, Tennessee. Going to college was always the dream, but the path there seemed steep. My dad was a welder and supported me in my journey, but there were many obstacles to overcome. I am a first-generation college student and got my undergraduate degree in Human Services at East Tennessee State University. When I went to college, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do – I just knew I wanted to help people.

My senior year, I did some internships with high school outreach and decided that it was something that I could do for a little while after I graduated. It was something I could do to help students who also wanted to go to college, but maybe couldn’t see how to get there, like me. I was not sure higher ed was for me. I started at Tennessee Tech University as an admissions counselor, helping students in the admissions process of college. I also started my master’s in strategic leadership while working full time.  After two years there I moved to UT as an admissions counselor doing the same work, but for the land grant. While my goal of helping students was the same, the mission felt more meaningful. While I was there, I served on a search committee for the Herbert College of Agriculture and I remember even though I had no ties here, it felt like home. A few months later the position of recruitment coordinator came open. I took a chance and applied, and the rest is history!

What are some of your main responsibilities, and can you describe a typical day in your life?

A lot of people say this, but there truly is no typical day here. My main responsibilities include overseeing the recruitment strategy for the college and the scholarship program. I have two recruitment coordinators on my team, and I supervise an ambassador team of 50 students across all 11 majors in the college. I also manage the awarding of more than 200 endowment accounts. I resolve issues for student accounts, review appeals, work on new agreements, and anything related to the scholarship process of the college. I foster relationships with stakeholders, students, schools, and academic partners. I create new and innovative ways to meet students where they are and help them realize a future in agriculture, natural resources, and construction science. There truly is no day-to-day here, but my favorite days are the ones where I can walk away and know that because of me a student feels better or more capable.

You’ve helped increase Herbert’s scholarship awards from $800,000 to $1.25 million. What inspired you to take on this kind of work, and what does that growth mean for students?

I once said that my job changed because I opened my big mouth. Scholarships were a big part of that. I come in every day asking myself how I can make things better for students, and this was a recurring issue that I saw that I wanted to help fix. I knew we had the potential to better utilize the generous gifts donors have given to better impact mote students, I just needed to figure out how. Since I started that process, we have done a complete overhaul of the awarding process and are now restructuring the management system for endowments for better organization and usage. This has truly been a labor of love, and it is my desire to help as many students as possible. I would love to see a day when every student receives a scholarship, and I think we can get there.

What’s a proud moment or memory that stands out from your time at Herbert so far?

I also think about recently leading the proposal and securing the Tennessee Leadership Summit for the next three years! We are embarking on a new way to partner with the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation and I couldn’t be more excited.

But for me, I feel most proud in the little moments. I have a folder of emails and messages from students for when the days are hard.  I go back to those often and remember that even if I don’t always see it, I am having an impact on someone and that is something I am truly proud of.

What makes the Herbert College of Agriculture stand out to prospective students and families?

The education we provide, the readiness we instill, and the care that we offer. We use the word “home” a lot, but it goes beyond just a cheesy tagline for us. When I think of a home, I think of a place that takes care of you but also develops you into who you are. Whether it’s a class you’re taking, an organization you’re involved in, or a couch to sit on because it’s been a long day, we make sure students have everything they need to be successful. I think the people in the college make it such a unique and special place. It’s about more than just “getting a degree” for us.

Herbert has seen a remarkable 54% increase in applications over the past four years. What do you think is driving this growth?

No one can deny it is a great time to be on Rocky Top, but it is also a great time to be at Herbert. The college has grown and expanded opportunities for students, and the mission of recruitment is to echo those opportunities across the state and beyond. We have diligently expanded our efforts, expanded opportunities for students to engage with the college, and expanded our partnerships with stakeholders. Again, my mission every day is, “How can I make this better?” If you look at our entire outreach strategy across my five years of being here, that is reflected. Some examples of that include when we went from 255 college tours in 2022-2023 to 509 in 2024-2025. We went from 11 high school group tours to 46. We went from 101 high school visits to 151. Our mission remains to reach and educate as many students about opportunities for their future as possible, to advocate for the fields of agriculture, natural resources, and construction sciences, and to build bridges for students to higher education.

What have you learned about leadership since taking on a larger role in recruitment and scholarships?

Leadership is a privilege and a huge responsibility. You walk in every day with the potential to impact someone’s day or their life. True leadership is about being an example, making the best choices you can, and putting yourself last.  

Looking ahead, what are your goals for continuing to build on Herbert’s momentum in recruitment and student support?

The basis of every decision will be about finding what students need and meeting them where they are. Through increased visibility, new partnerships, and expanded opportunities, I will continue to find new and best practices to reach and advocate for students. I hope to remove the taboo around the word “recruitment” so people see that we are not here to sell them on the college, but here to help them realize their full potential and the opportunities that college can give them.

What do you like to do outside of work and/or what is a fun fact about yourself that your colleagues may not know?

Outside of work I am also a PhD student. I am officially ABD, “All But Dissertation,” and working on my dissertation now. I have a 9-year-old corgi named Paisley who is my whole world. She’s the unofficial mascot of Herbert. I love live music and try to go to as many concerts as I can. I am weirdly obsessed with fish and the outdoors, and I think if I had met someone like me when I was in college, I may have been a wildlife and fisheries major.