The Herbert Dean’s Office is excited to introduce a new member of their team. Hannah Leyhew joined UTIA earlier this spring and is excited to introduce the Herbert College of Agriculture to potential students.

What excites you most about this position?

It’s exciting to me to have the opportunity to share with prospective students and their families what a Herbert education can do for them in both the traditional areas a person might think about for a college of agriculture and those areas that don’t immediately come to mind. It was clear from my first experience on our campus that recruitment isn’t the priority for a small group of people but for everyone, and that is something I think will benefit us greatly as we continue recruiting for the next generation of Herbert students.

Do you have any guiding philosophies/principles for recruitment?

I think the most important factor I lean toward when recruiting is differentiation. Prospective students have so many choices when it comes to their education and often, there are personal priorities that lie outside the classroom and financial aid office. So, what can a college like Herbert and university like UTK do to meet those needs and what do we do better than anyone else? How can we show that our students are growing not only in their fields but as people too?

My own undergraduate journey reflected this differentiation because of how my alma mater, Middle Tennessee State University, served as a catalyst for my academic and personal development. I want each of our students to walk across the stage at their graduation feeling like the education they received at Herbert couldn’t have been replicated anywhere else, and that begins with the conversations they have with us in the recruitment process.

What are some of your interests outside of work?

Born and raised in Murfreesboro, I am an avid Tennessee Titans fan, and you can almost always find some type of athletic event on my tv screen. My late grandfather was a tried-and-true Atlanta Braves fan, so this past year has been a highlight of my sports-watching life. I also enjoy a trip to the movies that stems from my first job being behind the concession stand at my hometown’s local theater. Otherwise, you can probably find me in a kayak or listening to a true crime podcast, and I am excited to experience my first Saturday at Neyland Stadium this fall!