The Herbert Dean’s Office is excited to introduce a new member of their team. Ally Lay is the new student success advisor for the Departments of Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership and Agricultural Resources and Economics.

What excites you most about this position?

I graduated from the Hebert College of Agriculture with my undergraduate and graduate degrees, so this place has always felt like home to me! Coming back and being on campus to work with students, which is what I am most passionate about, is so special. I am excited to give students the same safe space, encouragement, and support that I was given as a student. I love meeting new people and building relationships with the awesome students we have here. Getting to support our Vols through so many important aspects of their college career is something that I wake up excited to do every day!

Do you have any guiding philosophies/principles for advising and working with students?

I like to live by the Maya Angelou quote, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” My hope is that through my advice and guidance students will feel accepted and valued during their time here in our college. Staying up to date on the best and most efficient ways to advise, keeping in the loop and knowledgeable about the curriculum, and always putting students first is how I plan to be successful in my position! At the end of the day, I want the students who come in contact with me to know that they are important and are happy to be a student in our college. 

What are some of your interests outside of work?

Outside of work, I love to spend time with my husband, Andrew, and our daughter, Jane. As a family we love to hike, try out new recipes in the kitchen, binge watch TV, and watch our baby girl learn new things! I am a big Disney nerd, and you can probably find me in my office playing some Disney music. I love to read during any spare time I can find, so send all the book recommendations! Every Saturday in the fall you will find me decked out in orange cheering for my Vols!