The University of Tennessee will host spring commencement ceremonies, May 16-18. UT Libraries takes the opportunity to recognize library staff and student assistants who are graduating and to celebrate their hard work and accomplishments.

Cameron Atkinson. Cameron Atkinson was a student library assistant at Pendergrass Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Library for four years while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in art with a minor in graphic design. She says her immediate plan following graduation is “taking the summer to expand my portfolio while I seek out internships and/or entry level positions in fields related to animation, illustration, printing, or graphic and motion design.”

Onyx Bard. Onyx Bard is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and a secondary major in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. After graduation, they plan to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Onyx worked in Collection Logistics, where their main duties were pulling requested books, reshelving returned books, and other tasks or projects to keep the library stacks in order.

Eric Benson. Eric Benson, currently a graduate student library assistant in Acquisitions and Continuing Resources (ACR), will receive his Master of Science in Information Sciences. This summer he assumes a staff position, Resource Acquisitions Specialist, in ACR.

Myles Bowman. Myles Bowman, a staff member in the Libraries’ Acquisitions and Continuing Resources department, will receive his Master of Science in Information Sciences this spring. Bowman joined the Libraries in January of this year. His favorite parts of his job as Acquisitions Analyst are the problem-solving opportunities and the support of all of his peers and supervisors.

Gretchen Bushman (not pictured). Gretchen Bushman will receive a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. At the Libraries, Gretchen was hired to guide other students in the use of the Anatomage Table, a virtual dissection table that allows students to visualize thousands of anatomical structures and to perform virtual dissections as they would on a real cadaver. Following graduation, Gretchen begins a speech-language pathology clinical fellowship in Madison, Wisconsin.

Gabrielle Cochran. Gabrielle Cochran is graduating with a Master of Science in Information Sciences, as well as receiving a Graduate Certificate in Research Data Management. She has worked as a Graduate Research Assistant in Hodges Library for the Assessment Programs and Collection Strategy department since fall 2022. She also spent this semester completing a practicum at Pendergrass Library.  “I have enjoyed working throughout UT Libraries so much! I have gained invaluable experience and am incredibly grateful for all of the wonderful librarians and staff I have been able to work with, especially the APCS team!” 

Lirui Cong. Lirui Cong, who will receive her Master of Science in Business Analytics this spring, says of her immediate plans: “I’ll be on the hunt for roles in business analysis or data science. Additionally, I’ll actively seek out volunteer opportunities related to data analysis.” She has been working as a Graduate Student Library Assistant in Acquisitions and Continuing Resources. She says of her experience in ACR: “Working with a variety of lovely books feels like meeting new friends every day!.”

Matthew Delgado. Matthew Delgado, who has worked in both Public Services and in the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, will receive his Master of Science in Information Sciences. “Working at Hodges has inspired me to pursue a career where I can help improve information literacy and research support for students and faculty,” he says. He is currently seeking employment in academic libraries or archives.

Lauren Favier. Lauren Favier is graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the College of Architecture and Design. For the past semester, she has worked at the University of Tennessee Press as a design and production intern, learning about book cover design and interior typesetting, and creating promotional assets for the press. After graduation, she will be pursuing a design role in Knoxville. While working in the Libraries, she has loved getting to know her mentors and delving into all of the details that take a book from idea to finished product.

Emily Fleming. Emily Fleming has been a student library assistant for two library departments, Administration and Human Resources and the Business Services Office. This spring she will receive a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in accounting. “After graduation, I will be interning in Nashville this summer as an Audit Intern at KPMG. In the fall, I will be returning to UT to get my master’s in accounting! My favorite thing about working at the library,” she said, “is all the people I’ve gotten to meet and work with, and getting to see how passionate everyone is.”

Sam Konsavage. Sam Konsavage is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Honors History and a minor in musicology. She worked as a student library assistant in the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, where she helped to process archival collections. She is incredibly grateful for her supervisors and coworkers at Hodges who taught her many things about archival work. After graduation, Konsavage hopes to attend graduate school for her master’s in Library and Information Sciences and continue working in archives.

London Lacoste. London Lacoste, presently a graduate student library assistant for the Anatomage Table, graduates this spring with a Juris Doctor from the UT College of Law. In the fall, Lacoste will work as an associate attorney at Lewis Thomason, PC, in Nashville.

Jessica Oetting. Jessica Oetting, a staff member in Acquisitions and Continuing Resources, has earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Following graduation, Jessica will work on the trauma-surgical floor of the UT Medical Center while continuing to work in the Libraries’ resource sharing unit.

Daria Podzolkova. While pursuing a master’s degree in advertising, Daria Podzolkova served as graduate library assistant in Marketing and Communications, managing the Libraries’ social media presence. Daria says of her experience: “I have enjoyed working in the library for the past almost two years because I was granted a chance not only to excel in my professional skills and apply the received knowledge in practice but also to contribute to the UT community. There are so many amazing resources our UT Libraries provide for our community of students and staff!” Daria will pursue a career in communications.

Arwen Roach. Arwen Roach is graduating with two bachelor’s degrees in Data Science and Psychology with a minor in English. She worked as a student library assistant for The Studio throughout her time at UT. She intends to find a job in the field of data science where she can have a more client-facing role in solving problems.

Terra Schaeffer. Terra Schaeffer, who works in Library Express, is graduating with a double major in political science and sociology (with a concentration in criminology and criminal justice) and a minor in Hispanic studies. Terra says, “I have loved connecting with the people I work with. Conversations from dogs to ’60s jello recipes always end with something exciting in our little basement community. As for the work itself, I have always enjoyed organization and filing systems, but I wouldn’t mind never looking for a lost book through four floors of stacks again :].” Terra plans to work for a couple of years then consider either going to law school or pursuing a master’s degree in criminology.