MANRRS | Herbert College of Agriculture

Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) is a national society that welcomes membership of people of all racial and ethnic group participation in agricultural and related science careers. MANRRS members are encouraged to be full participants in other professional societies for their basic disciplinary and career interests.

MANRRS provides networks to support professional development of minorities. It is a springboard for their entry into and advancement in careers where they otherwise could be lost in the sheer number and established connections of mainstream participants. For student members, MANRRS provides role models and networking opportunities.

MANRRS Executive Board

President: Ariane DeForneau, adeforne@vols.utk.edu

Vice President: Ryian Woods, rwoods22@vols.utk.edu

Secretary: Kaitlyn Choi, kchoi7@vols.utk.edu

Treasurer: Makayla Inmon, minmon1@vols.utk.edu

Social Chair: Kayla Brown, kaylbrow@vols.utk.edu

Graduate Student Representative: Bryanna Fayne, brynfayn@vols.utk.edu

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sharon Jean-Philippe, Jeanphil@utk.edu

“We, the members of this society, pledge to support endeavors that will always foster and promote the agricultural sciences and related fields in a positive manner among ethnic minorities. We also pledge to initiate and participate in activities and programs that will ensure that ethnic minorities will also be involved in and associated with the agricultural sciences and related fields. We pledge to work for the inclusion, achievement, and advancement of all people in the agricultural sciences.”
UT Knoxville MANRRS Chapter

Since its establishment, the UT Knoxville Chapter of MANRRS has worked with hundreds of students to promote academic development, personal enhancement, leadership skills, and professional success. We are open to ALL STEM MAJORS across the institution. Our hope is to ensure that students, particularly underrepresented STEM students, acquire the necessary resources for both short-term and long-term goals. As such, we complete a myriad of activities and programs throughout the academic year including:

Career Development Programs (guest speakers from Career Services)
Employer Information Sessions (quest speakers from some of the top ag employers in Tennessee)
Community Service (using our skills to enhance communities throughout the entire city)
Recreational Activities (identifying ways to promote engagement, fun, and success!)

Each fall semester, the UT Knoxville Chapter of MANRRS participates in the annual Region 3 Cluster (Conference). Each cluster features a career fair, mock interviews, student competitions, alumni mixer, and professional and leadership development for students and professional attendees. The goal of the cluster meetings is to encourage diversity and inclusion and promote the development of leadership skills that will prepare our members for a thriving future in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences. We seek to provide strategies and techniques that will prove effective for professional development and advancement in today’s work environment. MANRRS hopes to achieve this goal by collaborating with our corporate, government, and university partners to offer seminars that will provide a guide for their future success.

Each spring semester, the UT Knoxville Chapter of MANRRS takes a group of students to our National Conference (held in a different city each year). The goal of the national conference is to provide students with opportunities to connect with almost 1,000 collegiate members from across the United States. Over the course of a 3-day conference, students will engage in the following:

Networking with underrepresented STEM students from across America
Connecting with almost 100 different agricultural/STEM employers and graduate school/veterinary school representatives from across the nation (and having opportunities to participate in first-round interviews for internships and full-time positions)
Engage in friendly and spirited competitions with other Chapters across the nation
Acquire vital tools regarding leadership development, chapter enhancement, and professional success through highly engaging workshops, seminars, and programs

The UT Knoxville MANRRS Chapter is collaborating with Austin-East High School to develop a future Jr. MANRRS Program. Jr. MANRRS provides the following for middle and high school students:

Encourages 7th-12th graders to pursue degrees in agriculture and related fields
Fosters a positive attitude towards academic excellence and enthusiasm about science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and mathematics (STEAM)
Increases the number of underserved and underrepresented students attending and graduating from college
Provides mentorship from collegiate students and career professionals
Raises cultural awareness among students and professionals
Produces opportunities for leadership development and scholarships