College Committees

The Dean’s Undergraduate Student Advisory Council connects undergraduate student representatives with the dean and their administrative staff. The council functions to represent the voices, concerns, and interests of the student body of the Herbert College of Agriculture and to create an impactful pathway between students and administration. Regular meetings with the dean provide opportunities for the advisory council to facilitate open dialogue about issues or concerns in the college while also providing an avenue for the dean to solicit student perspectives on policy matters. This mutual exchange of meaningful dialogue strengthens the communication among students and the dean’s office. Examples in which the council advises the dean include increasing break time between classes, advocating for the continuance of bus service to the “ag campus,” bringing food trucks to campus, the inspiration behind the creation of our graduate school information session, providing insight into what student spaces are needed, and much more.

Commitment

The Dean’s Undergraduate Student Advisory Council meets twice a semester, with time and location determined by the dean and administrative staff.

Member Selection

Each department within the Herbert College of Agriculture selects an undergraduate representative to the council through a self-nomination process, along with two Herbert Ambassadors, making the council rich with representation from all facets of the college. These students will serve throughout the duration of the academic year and departments with multiple majors should select one representative for each major. The two selected Herbert Ambassadors, who undergo the same self-nomination process, will serve in addition to the eleven selected members from the college departments. If a student served on the council previously, they are encouraged to apply to serve again should their schedule allow. The goal is to broaden student representation and further engagement in the college.

Committee Chair: Spencer Ryan, Office of the Dean, [email protected]

2026-2027 Members:

• Agricultural Business: Andy McBrearty
• Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications: Skylar Baird
• Animal and Veterinary Science: Audrey Divers
• Construction Science and Management: Colin McCoy
• Biosystems Engineering: Joshua Hyde
• Environmental Science: Sara Moyers
• Forestry: Anna Lisowski
• Food Science: Kiran Bhela
• Natural Resource and Environmental Economics: Grace Gorgone
• Plant Sciences: Emily Whitehead
• Wildlife and Fisheries Science: Erin Davis
• Herbert Ambassadors: Drew Hogan and Sloan Hoesel

The Dean’s Graduate Student Advisory Council connects graduate student representatives with the dean and their administrative staff. The council functions to represent the voices, concerns, and interests of the diverse graduate student body of the college and to create an impactful pathway between students and administration. Regular meetings with the dean provide opportunities for the advisory council to facilitate open dialogue about issues or concerns in the college while also providing an avenue for the dean to solicit graduate student perspectives on policy matters. Examples of topics on which the council advises the dean include expanding graduate student appreciation events, identifying ways to better support graduate students, and creating additional opportunities for research presentations.

This mutual exchange of meaningful dialogue strengthens communication among graduate students and the dean’s office.

Commitment

The Dean’s Graduate Student Advisory Council meets monthly, with time and location determined by the dean and administrative staff.

Member Selection

Each department within the college selects a graduate student representative to the council through a self-nomination process, making the council rich with representation from all facets of the college. These students will serve two-year terms. The student life coordinator for the college will be tasked with distributing the application form at the end of every academic year to departments to fill their vacant seats.

Committee Chair: Spencer Ryan, Office of the Dean, [email protected]

2026-2027 Members:

• Agricultural and Resource Economics: Haylee Ferguson
• Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications: Harrison Falcofsky
• Animal Science: Cassidy Catrett
• Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science: Savannah Jobkar
• Entomology and Plant Pathology: Rebekka Horn
• Food Science: Sahar Saadatvarnousefaderani
• Plant Sciences: Jacob Friedrich
• School of Natural Resources: Tara Skiba

The Student Government Association’s Student Senate is a governing body of sixty undergraduate students that represent the interests and well-being of all students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Each academic college and residency classification is represented through senators elected by their fellow students in the annual Student Government Association elections, which are held each spring.

2026-2027 Herbert Senators

Marissa Koschnick, Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications

Zachary Feldman, Food Science

AFA exists to create and empower transformational leaders in the fields of food and agriculture. Ambassadors promote AFA to peers, university faculty and staff, and industry professionals. In return, AFA Ambassadors develop workforce preparedness through real-world professional experiences to set them up for success as young professionals and beyond.

Herbert AFA Ambassador

Caroline Brack, Environmental Science

Herbert AFA Student Advisors

George William Wilson, Animal and Veterinary Science

Grace Dunseth, Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications