The Commission for Disability Undergraduate Student Award honors an undergraduate student who is a champion for support and recognition of people with disabilities.
Sofie Janssen
Sofie Janssen, originally from Los Angeles, comes from a multicultural background and enjoys exploring her Dutch and African American heritage through her work. Janssen believes in the power of design to develop sustainable and accessible communities by integrating interior architecture and architectural design.
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 has infinite possibilities. After coming from LA, which is very different from Knoxville, I found myself wanting to help those who might have trouble acclimating to a different lifestyle. As someone who is African American, bilingual, female, and dealing with the struggles of a disability, I want to reach out and make UT a more comfortable place and welcoming experience. Whether that be an advocate, a helping hand, or a mentor, whatever I could do to make any situation better I would be more than willing to do. To me, that’s what being a Volunteer means.”