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]

2025-2026 Members:

• Agricultural Education, Leadership, and Communications: Madelyn Rodell
• Animal Science: Laura Gilliard
• Construction Science and Management: Jacob Cohen
• Biosystems Engineering: Lily Hague
• Environmental Science: Anne Eddins
• Forestry: Jackson Daniels
• Food and Agricultural Business: Becca Henegar
• Food Science: Kaylea Fields
• Natural Resource and Environmental Economics: Zoe Turner
• Plant Sciences: Rachel Duncan
• Wildlife and Fisheries Science: Erin Davis
• Herbert Ambassadors: Alli Wiggins and Drew Hogan

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.

Herbert Senators

Callie Robinson, Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications

Grace Dunseth, Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications

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 and Soil Science

Herbert AFA Student Advisors

George William Wilson, Animal Science

Grace Dunseth, Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications