The Herbert College Belongs to ALL of us.

We seek to ensure that everyone in the Herbert College of Agriculture feels that they matter and belong and that all those that seek to gain an education here feel valued. We will spread that message and recruit particularly underrepresented groups. Our faculty reinforce the message of acceptance and appreciation of all those who bring their unique selves to us. The challenges that we face are great but we are united under the sacred mission of the land grant and its philosophy of access for all.

Our hope is that every individual member of our community can say “I belong at Herbert.”

The Volunteer experience should be accessible to everyone. Every one of us has a story to tell, and every one of our stories is important. Explore the the stories shared by some our faculty, staff, and students below. We encourage you to read what they value and ultimately how they have personally experienced a sense of “mattering and belonging” here at the Herbert College of Agriculture.

Lisa Muller

Affiliation: Professor

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries

What are the most important values you hold?: “I truly believe that Herbert College promotes welcoming of all students, faculty, and staff. We all have different gifts and talents that are needed for each major in the College. I think we all develop a passion early for our life’s direction.  However, we can get stuck when we think we are not enough – not enough background, not enough experience, not enough whatever. But our unique life story enables us to all look at issues in a different way and add to solutions needed for agriculture and natural resource issues faced by the world today. We desperately need all voices to solve the complex problems. The training in the classroom is just to direct the “enough” towards the innate passion and learn to think critically on the best ways to use our gifts.”

How are you mindful about how you foster “mattering and belonging” in your work?: “I am mindful of the insecurities we all face and try to promote the idea that we are all enough and belong.  Our ideas and viewpoints matter as long as we have given them careful consideration and thought.  I try to promote the idea we need to work together and foster our passions in order to be successful.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “I know Dean Beyl recognizes my gifts and promotes my belonging even when I don’t see that myself.  I think that is true of so many in the Herbert College – they see what we are capable of and support our moving forward in the right direction.  Our purpose matters and we feel valued.”

Quinn Forney

Affiliation: Undergraduate Student

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries

What are the most important values you hold?: “I really value compassion; developing respectful and understanding relationships with my peers is something I strive to do and work towards every day. Another important value I hold is dedication. I believe that the best things come from hard work, so I always put in as much effort as I can into achieving my goals.”

What do you think about mattering and belonging?: “It’s very important for people to feel that they matter as an individual and that they belong to a community. The best collaboration happens when there’s an environment of mutual compassion. Everyone deserves to feel that they are respected and valued as a member of our community.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “My classmates and professors have always been there for me to ensure that I am treated respectfully. As a transgender person, I really value when people take the time to use my proper name and pronouns, which my peers and professors have always made an effort to do. I am involved in a couple organizations in the Herbert College, and this has given me a strong sense of belonging to the Herbert family.”

Nour Abdoulmoumine

Affiliation: Assistant Professor

Department: Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

What are the most important values you hold?: “I value actively promoting a positive work and learning environment that embraces and fosters diversity and multiculturalism, inclusiveness, integrity, kindness, collegiality, an open-mind spirit and creativity as core values. I believe we are at our best when we aspire and act in a manner that is consistent with these values to elevate us all institutionally and personally.”

How are you mindful about how you foster “mattering and belonging” in your work?: “It has always been important to make sure that I act in a manner consistent with my values. Within my research group, I make sure to create a diverse and multicultural space that is inclusive, kind and collegial both in how we treat each other and how we go about fulfilling our duties. It takes work and a constant reflection on your actions. Reflecting about my actions and values allows me to identify my shortcomings and address them to make sure that everyone matters and belongs. I try to model this approach beyond my research group although I recognize that I don’t control that space.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “I have been very fortunate to have amazing co-workers, supervisors, and students who have made me feel like I matter and belong. I don’t take that for granted and am thankful for it.”

Windy Soto

Affiliation: Undergraduate Student

Department: Animal Science

What are the most important values you hold?: “I value honesty and transparency because integrity holds a huge place in my heart. Honesty is a moral character that involves being trustworthy and sincere. Transparency implies openness in a way that it is easy for others to see what actions are performed. The message here is that in anything you do, there should be something you gain from it. In addition to that, it should benefit your wellbeing, mental, and emotional health by reciprocating behavior. Overall, it is important to be those things so that in any relationship, whether that’s friends-friends, employee-employer, and professor-student, everyone involved is aware of each other’s boundaries and saying what they genuinely feel or believe. That way there are no limits being pushed or expecting too much of someone.”

What do you think about mattering and belonging?: “It is important for a student to truly feel like they matter and belong. It is in our nature to want to fit in. So, having an established friend group that is there for you to lean on when times are difficult is comforting. Students want to feel that they are important and therefore seek significance in their daily life. That can look like having a student organization that depends on you or having a study group that is there for you when the material gets challenging. The emotion of feeling like you matter and belong will ultimately determine how well you do in any setting.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “My first week as a Herbert College student I was involved in an early access program with Herbert College Connections (HCC). This program is for underrepresented students to begin building relationships with faculty and peers before the start of the semester. I spent that time with a great group of people and mentors that truly made me feel like I matter and belong at Herbert. The people I met during that week ended up being my professors or will be later in my college career. Those students became my best friends and the best study group. They hold me accountable and I know I can turn to them for advice. I deeply appreciate and have so much love for my HCC family”

Joanne Logan

Affiliation: Associate Professor

Department: Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

What are the most important values you hold?: “Being an environmental scientist, I believe in protecting our planet and all its glorious biodiversity for our generation as well as future ones, while providing a healthy, safe, and productive life for all its inhabitants.”

How are you mindful about how you foster “mattering and belonging” in your work?: “I always try to be responsive and caring toward my colleagues and students, and treat everyone with respect and dignity. I’ve worked hard at being a good listener, but this is a journey for sure. Being a good listener is one of the easiest ways to show someone that they matter and belong. For my students, I try to pay attention to their concerns, and do my best to find solutions.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “The “small college” feel to Herbert, for which we are pretty well-known, has always lent itself to making students, faculty, and staff feel like they matter and belong. Our college has always listened to the faculty and taken them into consideration when making decisions. And we have always had amazing opportunities to socialize through student activities, holiday parties, award ceremonies, retirement parties, and the like.”

Carrie Stephens

Affiliation: Professor

Department: Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications

What are the most important values you hold?: “I value family, friendships, and health.”

How are you mindful about how you foster “mattering and belonging” in your work?: “I love to be inclusive and collaborate with a variety of students and faculty to produce my courses, research projects, and outreach initiatives.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “I feel valued by colleagues and administration. I believe individuals within the Herbert College of Agriculture are not only work colleagues but family.”

Ethan Harvill

Affiliation: Undergraduate Student

Department: Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications

What are the most important values you hold?: “Some of the most important values I hold are Loyalty, Honesty, Transparency, Authenticity, and Service.”

What do you think about mattering and belonging?: “I think that mattering and belonging is vital to any college student. Feeling as if you matter and have a place to fit in truly can shape one’s college success. I feel that mattering and belonging goes further than just academic success, but personal success as an extension. I view mattering and belonging much like a puzzle, each piece is like a person, and every person has a unique place that they fit in at the University of Tennessee. When looking at the puzzle, every piece is different, yet when combined, they are able to come together to make a great masterpiece.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: Being engaged in the Herbert Life LLC gave me my first experience in showing me that I Matter and Belong at UT. I was exposed to many people like myself who came from small towns, and worked extremely hard to get to the University of Tennessee. I met fellow students who are just as driven and that are aspiring to do great things to further the agricultural industry. I met people from all walks of life, all skin colors, sexual orientations, religions, and we all have a passion for agriculture and bettering the world we live in.

A second notable experience that I feel I Mattered and Belonged was through my primary passion, raising rabbits. I, like many students, did not grow up on a farm, but rather I found my own way into the industry. I was able to continue to learn and develop my knowledge of this food and fiber animal with the assistance of Mrs. Jessy Shanks. During one of her animal science courses we were able to reflect and relate information from one species to another. It was during this experience that I was able to grow my knowledge and background in the animal science industry, which will play a large role in my professional career.

Another example of feeling that I Matter and Belong was when I was published in the Herbert News section after being featured in an Agriculture Spotlight by the Tennessee Farm Bureau. The Dean’s office was able to provide experiences to highlight the activities of the students within the college. I felt that It was such an honor to be able to share my story along with so many talented young agriculturalists.

These three examples are just glimpses of numerous experiences that the Herbert College has made me feel of how I Matter and Belong at the University of Tennessee. I am so thankful for my fellow Vols and the inclusive faculty and staff that provide experiences to make each and every member of the Herbert family feel that they Matter and Belong at the University of Tennessee.

Legna Soto

Affiliation: Undergraduate Student

Department: Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications

What are the most important values you hold?: “Something that is dear to my heart is the work ethnic an individual holds for themselves because that determines their dedication and commitment to their goals. People occasionally suggest that you should “be the change you wish to see in the world,” by having a strong work ethnic anything an individual sets their mind on can be accomplish with perseverance. To me it is important to continue to work on yourself professionally, academic, physically, mentally, and even spiritually.”

What do you think about mattering and belonging?: “Mattering to me means when the faculty and staff genuinely care about students. When students are their priority that brings a sense of belonging. Students feel welcomed on campus when they are appreciated, rewarded, and acknowledged by their professors, campus, staff/faculty, and admin. Belonging is important to a young adult as we go through higher education trying to figure out what we want to do for the next 10 years of our lives. By mattering and belonging on campus students can find what fits them most to propel them forward into their future careers.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “I joined an early access bridge program, Herbert College Connections (HCC), that helps incoming students of color in the Herbert College get to know the campus better before the fall semester. With the help of Sharon Couch and NaQuaina Moore, I was able to join other programs that help students like me feel like I matter and belong.

Additionally, the Herbert College has embraced strategies to enroll students of color. I enjoy seeing more people like me. Given the fact that American agriculture has a terrible past, we are still dealing with the repercussions today. It is important to encourage students not to be afraid of what they want to study and give it their best shot.”

Bonnie H. Ownley

Affiliation: Professor/Graduate Director

Department: Entomology and Plant Pathology

What are the most important values you hold?: “As complex humans, each of us holds many values, but our actions are influenced by some of our values more than others. If I had to choose three, my most important values are determination, a strong sense of justice, especially when it comes to how people are treated, and a desire to contribute to society with meaningful work.”

How are you mindful about how you foster “mattering and belonging” in your work?: “I believe that being a member of the university community, whether your role is student, staff, faculty, or administrator, has become more challenging in recent years. It is imperative that we listen to one another and move towards greater understanding and equity. We must learn to listen to one another, even when opinions conflict. In my work as a graduate director I know that the graduate students in my department did not make the decision to embark on a graduate degree without thoughtful deliberation. I know that it will be a stressful time in their lives, juggling coursework, conducting research, preparing meeting presentations, and writing theses/dissertations and publications, while managing families or separation from their families for long periods of time. It is very important to me to listen to them and assure them that each and every one of them is an important member of our department community. We accepted them into our program with confidence that they could complete their degrees and we are there to remove roadblocks and provide opportunities. All our students matter and belong – they are the life blood of our program.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “I have been a faculty member at UTIA since 1992, and to be honest, in the early years, as one of about five women across the Institute, there were times when I did not feel that I mattered and belonged. But times change, attitudes change, and leadership changes, and in the last 10 years I have felt that my opinion was valued and that I do matter and belong. But I want all university personnel regardless of job responsibilities, rank, gender, race, and ethnicity to feel that same sense of mattering and belonging. We need to practice listening, empathy, and respect for one another. We can achieve more working together than we can as individuals.”

Jennifer Vuia-Riser

Affiliation: Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant

Department: Food Science

What are the most important values you hold?: “I believe that being honest, caring, accountable, inclusive, and respectful are some of the most important values I hold. With these values, you can listen and empathize with others. You build integrity and establish ethics that you hold yourself and others accountable with these values. Bringing diverse opinions to the table and showing respect and care for others can transcend all of our lives for the better.”

What do you think about mattering and belonging?: “As an out-of-state student, having a sense of belonging and mattering was extremely important to me. Whenever I visited the UT Department of Food Science, I immediately felt a sense of belonging and support. Transitioning into being a full time student while also juggling work, extracurricular activities, family and social life is incredibly difficult. Having the right people mentoring and advising you is critical.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “I honestly felt like I was a part of the UT family because of the support and outreach by the Herbert College of Agriculture and the Department of Food Science. The fact that the Deans know your name and how you are progressing in your degree is like no other college I have ever been to. The genuine care and support that Herbert College of Agriculture has invested in all students, not just myself, made a world of difference in my academic experience. The investment Herbert College of Agriculture has in diversity and inclusion, student social activities, student club unity and teamwork, and professional development made me feel like I made the right choice and that I belonged at UT.”

Vermont Dia

Affiliation: Assistant Professor

Department: Food Science

What are the most important values you hold?: “Honesty, Professionalism, Openness, Joyfulness, Cooperation.”

How are you mindful about how you foster “mattering and belonging” in your work?: “I always believe that each person has a different experience to bring to the group and that each person can contribute something valuable due to his/her experience. Everyone should be heard, we need to act, and everyone should be given opportunities to be successful. Being open-minded, making sure that each person has the same opportunity, and treating everyone with respect are needed to foster mattering and belonging in any community.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “Herbert College has always been very open with suggestions from each member of its family. It has always created activity that would promote everyone’s idea. I think hearing all voices and acting on what truly matters have been the core values of Herbert College that promote mattering and belonging.”

Coleen Farrell

Affiliation: Professional Staff

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries

What are the most important values you hold?: “Family, integrity, and hard work.”

How are you mindful about how you foster “mattering and belonging” in your work?: “I am very mindful about fostering mattering and belonging into my work as a student success advisor. I feel that each student has individuality that deserves to be recognized and celebrated. Giving students a sense of belonging and a feeling of mattering creates an environment where they are appreciated and publicly acknowledged is a part of feeling safe. As an advisor, showing students that they matter and belong can involve anything from showing them appreciation to being transparent and always having open communication.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “Herbert College is an environment where staff and students can feel comfortable with any situation they may have.  Whether a staff member or student needs to meet with the dean or another member of administration, any and all concerns are taken seriously and with care.”

Jake Nelson

Affiliation: Professional Staff

Department: Plant Sciences

What are the most important values you hold?: “I believe in loving your neighbor as you do yourself – I fail this maxim frequently. I believe in grace when we make mistakes – I require that regularly. I believe that we are all doing the best we can every moment, and we should give ourselves more credit, more amity – I am trying. I believe that being a human is a wonderful, cosmic experience, full of magical moments of discovery and wonder. When we experience our humanity together in harmony, I believe we receive a glimpse of why we are here.”

How are you mindful about how you foster “mattering and belonging” in your work? “Having worked with potential students, I strive to remain conscious about where my voice ends. A profusion of undergraduates shape Herbert College of Agriculture and will soon apply our programming in the workforce. Students, being our principal stakeholders, should all have a seat at the Herbert family table and an integral role shaping the future of the Institute of Agriculture. From taking time to talk at Mabel’s to fielding questions while conducting tours to sharing a social media post, the Department of Plant Sciences endeavors to amplify a range of student narratives.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “Herbert College of Agriculture is like no other place. When I walk the halls, I stop at least fifteen times with: “How are you?,” “I bet that baby is growing like a weed,” “Congratulations on your grant!” It is the culture, a family adopted with a particular Appalachian kindliness toward one another. That space for building personal relationships, taking time get to know each other, laughing and crying and carrying on when you need it, it bonds us in a very special way.”

Cassie Johnson

Affiliation: Professional Staff

Department: Herbert College Dean’s Staff

What are the most important values you hold?: “I value kindness, consideration, and empathy most of all. We are all human, everyone is walking a different path, and it is important that in every interaction we approach with understanding first.”

How are you mindful about how you foster “mattering and belonging” in your work?: “In my role, it is so important to show students that they matter and belong here. I have the unique opportunity to work with and prospective and current students, so there are walks of life across the spectrum. My first goal is to meet every student where they are. While it is easy to focus on the collective, it is my goal to ensure that individually, students are heard and seen in the spaces I am a part of. I want to listen to and understand the needs of each student I get the chance to interact with.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “I think I have a unique opportunity perspective to speak on mattering and belonging here in the Herbert College. I began my role working from home, which makes for a potentially difficult transition. However, the family here in Herbert has made sure that I know I matter and belong here. Through kind words, encouragement, and just overall support, I feel so grateful to be a part of this team.”

Amber Rayborn

Affiliation: Professional Staff

Department: Animal Science

What are the most important values you hold?: “My values align closely with those of NACADA, the Global Community for Academic Advising: caring, commitment, empowerment, inclusivity, integrity, and respect.”

How are you mindful about how you foster “mattering and belonging” in your work?: “As an advisor, I work to make sure that my students know that someone at the university truly cares about them and that they’re not just a number. I get to know who they are as people, I encourage them to focus on their strengths, I learn about what is going on in their lives, I celebrate their achievements, I encourage them through their disappointments, and I let them know that I am invested in them. I strive to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment where my students know they can be their authentic selves, and I work to realize, acknowledge, and challenge my own implicit biases and privileges.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “I feel that the faculty, staff, and students that I work with in Animal Science truly value and appreciate the work that I do and they see me as a vital part of the Department.”

Adella Lonas

Affiliation: Undergraduate Student

Department: Animal Science

What are the most important values you hold?: “Some of the most important values I hold are appreciation, kindness, and vision. I believe it is important to appreciate people and opportunities, always show kindness, and have a vision that aligns with what one wants to achieve.”

What do you think about mattering and belonging?: “I believe that a feeling of mattering and belonging is essential for any individual to succeed. A place that encourages students allows them to learn what they are capable of, regardless of their personal opinion of their capabilities. When a student feels like they are cared for and belong at their school, their educational goals seem much more achievable.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “My experience in the Herbert College of Agriculture has been filled with several opportunities from faculty members. Coming in as an out-of-state student, my interactions with faculty have made me feel a great sense of mattering and belonging, especially since those who work within the college have only known me for a short time. It’s special to be at a school that truly cares about their students’ goals. Professors and faculty members genuinely want to see their students achieve any dream they have. I think the investment that the college has already played in my education is far more than I could have ever hoped for. I’m very thankful for my Herbert family.”

Bryanna Fayne

Affiliation: Undergraduate Student

Department: Animal Science

What are the most important values you hold?: “The most important values I hold are open-mindedness and perseverance. I am always open to learning about different cultures and viewpoints from around the world. I understand that people may not have the same opinion as me, but that is okay. As long as I am respected, I will always respect and value others. With perseverance, I work hard regardless of the outcome. Hard work may not always lead to success or a big reward; however, knowing that I put my all into something and never gave up is rewarding enough for me.”

What do you think about mattering and belonging?: “I think that “Mattering and Belonging” means that my opinions and feelings are considered and respected in whatever space I am in. I feel like I matter when I am treated with the same respect as my other peers are given. Then I truly feel like I belong in a space when I can equally be included in any opportunity that is presented.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “Herbert College is like a mini-community that has become my second home. Programs such as Herbert College Connections has shown me that my personal growth and educational journey matter the most to the faculty and the college. Organizations such as MANRRS and AFA have expanded my sense of belonging at the Herbert College of Agriculture by providing me with unique opportunities that I may not have gotten anywhere else. Before I entered college, I feared that it would be hard to “Matter and Belong” on campus, yet Herbert College instantly tore away those fears and accepted me into their family.”

Karen Delong

Affiliation: Associate Professor

Department: Agricultural and Resource Economics

What are the most important values you hold?: “I consider many values important and it would take a lot of space to list them all! Some examples are honesty, compassion, kindness, respect, loyalty, hard work, and integrity. I also follow the Golden Rule of treating others as you want to be treated.”

How are you mindful about how you foster “mattering and belonging” in your work?: “I am an extremely open person and let students know who I am not only professionally but also personally. I think this helps students feel comfortable opening up in class. In order to educate students you need to know who they are and how they learn. Getting students to feel comfortable helps create class discussion which is key to learning course material. Additionally, everyone is always welcome to stop by my office and discuss what is on their mind. My door is always open! I deeply care about our students and want them to feel comfortable asking me questions whether about course content, career advice, or who is going to win the football game Saturday.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “From the perspective of a faculty member, academia can be extremely competitive and vicious. It’s rare to find a college where your colleagues want to help you succeed and have no problem sharing success with you. In Herbert, everyone truly does help you succeed and wants to share in your success, not steal it. I think the incentives are properly structured in Herbert to encourage this environment. Plus, there are a lot of great people who work hard to keep our college welcoming. We have a real sense of community on our campus that is rare for large universities.”

Kristy Keel-Blackmon

Affiliation: Professional Staff

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries

What are the most important values you hold?: “Empathy, compassion, kindness, mindfulness.”

How are you mindful about how you foster “mattering and belonging” in your work?: “I feel that it’s part of my job – and part of being a good human being — to make sure everyone feels welcome; everyone should feel that they matter and belong at UTIA. Everyone deserves to have a seat at the table, to have their ideas heard, and to be treated respectfully. I chose to be part of my department’s diversity and inclusion committee so that I can work on these tasks directly. I try to keep my perspective in check by reminding myself that my life experiences do not negate or override the experiences of another. My reality may not be reflective of someone else’s reality, and vice versa. Our differences make us great, and it’s important that we listen to each other’s perspectives to foster understanding.”

How has your experience in the Herbert College made you feel like you “Matter and Belong”?: “I feel like I belong because my voice and opinions are heard and valued. I’m part of a larger team that works for the greater good. I’m not faculty, and I don’t work directly with students every day, but I feel that my work supports the mission of the department and contributes to a positive departmental culture.”