A. Capannola
A. is a doctoral candidate and graduate teaching associate in the Department of Child and Family Studies. They research pathways to parenthood for LGBTQ+ people in the Southeast, and they have taught courses on family diversity and family stress and guest lectured on topics such as qualitative research methods, the harm-reduction model, and queer families. In addition to this work, A. serves on the CFS Diversity Action Committee and volunteers with the Pride Center as a Safe Zone facilitator.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
My PhD will be my third degree from UT, and I have gained so many skills, experiences, and friends in my decade on this campus – I even met my wife when we were both second-year students here. As a first-generation college student, the exceptional and compassionate mentorship I have received throughout my years at UT has changed the course of my life. That support and firm guidance is what I aim to model in my instructor role by making sure my students feel both challenged and cared for.
Abigayle Pollock
Abigayle Pollock is a graduate teaching assistant and livestock judging coach in the Department of Animal Science. She received a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Tennessee in May 2020. She is pursuing a master’s degree in animal science with a focus in reproductive physiology. As the livestock judging team coach, she plans trips to contests across the country, coordinates livestock judging camps, and assists with youth-outreach events across the Southeast.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
Being a Volunteer means going the extra mile even when it is not requested or expected. Being a member of the UT Livestock Judging Team as an undergraduate taught me the true meaning of hard work, dedication, and selflessness. As coach, it is exciting to continue to develop the program that shaped my undergraduate career. More importantly, my biggest motivator to make a difference is seeing students get excited about learning new things and cultivating their passion for the livestock industry.
Jacqueline Sullivan
Jackie Sullivan is a second-year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program. She earned her MA in clinical psychology from Columbia University and her BA in psychology from the University of Virginia. She is broadly interested in how early child experiences and individual factors (e.g., biological predispositions, emotion regulation) may influence socio-emotional development and contribute to the development of psychopathology.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?
Being a Volunteer is an exceptional honor. I’m grateful for the kindness and community that I’ve found here at UT. I’m especially grateful for Jenny Macfie, who set an example of what it means to be a mentor, teacher, and colleague. She afforded me this opportunity and privilege teaching undergraduate students. My hope was to not only offer foundational tools needed to understand child development, but also encourage long-term critical thought processes and application.