Excellence in Advising is bestowed by the Office of the Chancellor and the Teaching Council of the Faculty Senate to honor outstanding work in advising.
Melinda C. Crecelius-Lanham
Melinda Crecelius-Lanham is the inaugural Director of Advising for the UT College of Music. She comes to this position after serving as both an Advisor and Advising Coordinator in the College of Arts & Sciences where she advised music, theatre, and exploratory students. Prior to her time in higher education, Melinda worked in theatre education and outreach. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Centre College and master’s degrees from Fontbonne University and the University of Louisville.
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 stretching yourself and stepping beyond the bounds of comfort to gain a deeper understanding of self and the world. In doing so, we are better equipped and ready to support others in doing the same. The breadth and depth of UT’s investment in student success is unlike any other that I’ve seen elsewhere.”
Chris King
Chris King has worked with the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences since December of 2019. During his time at UTK, Chris began as an Advisor 1, later becoming a Senior Advisor, and was recently named an Assistant Director for the CEHHS Office of Advising and Student Services. Chris earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Tech in Interdisciplinary Studies, and his Master of Science in Education degree from Virginia Tech in Health and Human Performance.
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 giving my all daily and being “other-centered”. I know each day I am given an opportunity to serve students the best I can, and that I am given an opportunity to bring joy to those I am around. UT has empowered me to live the Volunteer spirit of serving, providing the support and leadership needed to excel at the highest level.”
Lisa Y.F. Parker
Dr. Lisa Y.F. Parker is the Director of the Language and World Business Program in the World Languages and Cultures Department. She is also Distinguished Lecturer in Hispanic Studies. Parker brings a unique perspective based on a background that combines an array of experiences prior to Academia starting with serving on active duty as an Army officer, to over twenty years of upper management in the business field. She earned her MA and PhD in Spanish from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
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 UT Volunteer has empowered me to provide students with meaningful ways to discover their interests, abilities and potential as learners and as contributing members of society. I assure students of my commitment to know them as individuals and not just as numbers. I emphasize that learning another language extends beyond meeting course requirements; it builds bridges to unite people and cultures in our nation and across the world.”
Vladimir Sobes
Dr. Sobes received this BS and PhD degrees in Nuclear Science and Engineering from MIT. After graduating, he worked as an R&D staff member in the Nuclear Data and Criticality Safety Group at ORNL. In January of 2020, he joined the nuclear engineering faculty at UTK in the role of Assistant Professor. His research covers a broad spectrum of reactor physics with a particular emphasis on neutron transport and optimization.
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?
“The slogan of the NE Department is “Study Nuclear, Serve the World.” I believe that in my role, teaching nuclear engineering and advising graduate and undergraduate researchers, I am serving the world the embodying the Volunteer spirit.”