The Rising UT Woman Award recognizes a woman in the early stages of her professional path who has made great strides in her area and shows exceptional promise for future accomplishments.
Alisa Garner
Alisa Garner is a doctoral student in the clinical psychology program. Her research interests include examining the motivations and functions of risky behaviors (e.g., substance misuse, casual sexual encounters, sexual violence) among emerging adults. Garner hopes to translate her research into intervention and prevention programs to prevent or reduce risk-taking behaviors.
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?
For me, being a Volunteer means striving to help others with an attitude of humility. An attitude of humility when in service to others helps ensure we are willing to understand ideas and experiences among the populations we serve and that may differ from our own. The mentorship and opportunities provided to me at UT has helped me understand the importance of willingness and openness to new ideas and perspectives, whether it is in research or in practice.
Amber Rayborn
Amber Rayborn serves as advising coordinator in the Herbert College of Agriculture. As the first in her family to graduate from high school, she understands how challenging it can be to navigate the path toward a college degree and is determined to help students make that process as easy and enjoyable as possible.
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 goal for working with students has always been to provide the resources, guidance, support, and well-placed tough love that students need to be successful in college, career, and life. I am thankful to have found a college and a department that value my work and allow me the autonomy to apply advising and student success practices in new and innovative ways.