Karmen Jones
Hello alumni!

My name is Karmen Jones (she series), and I am so excited to serve as the student body president during this academic year. I am from a small town right outside of Memphis, called Marion, Arkansas. Currently, I study English Rhetoric and Africana Studies, with the hopes of practicing law. Like many of you, my SGA journey began in the First Year Council, where I served as the Vice-Chair. Later, I became heavily involved with the Student Services side of our department and served as the Diversity Affairs director. Outside our department, I have worked in Multicultural Student Life, the Student Code of Conduct Revisory Board, and continue to serve as a Young Life Leader at Fulton High School. All of these organizations hold a special place in my memories for a variety of reasons, but SGA has always been the place where I found the most fulfillment through serving, representing, and connecting with students.

While this position can not be compared to any other position that I have held previously, I am so honored to have the opportunity to engage with each of you in this new capacity. As we celebrate our 101st year, we want to make sure that SGA is better than ever. Your experienced feedback is a necessary piece to our success, and we would love to build new connections and hear back from you directly.

Due to our current necessities of showing care for our Volunteer family and physical distancing, our team is committed to engaging with you in new, creative, and safe ways. It is my hope that we will get a chance to meet face-to-face in the near future. If you would like to connect with me for any reason, please email sga1@utk.edu. Our office is housed in the Student Union, room 174. Thank you for contributions to not only the Student Government Association but also to our entire university.

Go Vols!

Karmen Jones

 

Raj Patel
Hey everyone!

My name is Raj Patel (he series), and I am extremely excited to be serving as the Student Body Vice President for the lovely place we call Rocky Top. I am a first-generation Indian-American studying Aerospace Engineering hoping to continue to graduate school to get a PhD in the same discipline. While I was born a little ways out of Nashville in a city called Dickson, I called Memphis, TN home for about as long as I can remember. Now, I have the amazing opportunity to serve my new home that I have found in Knoxville. Ever since I set foot on campus, I have been in love with UT and the amazing opportunity I have to be a part of the Volunteer family!

I have spent my time on Rocky Top as a Leadership Knoxville Scholar, Haslam Scholar, and a NAE Grand Challenge Scholar. On top of this, I serve as a Tickle College of Engineering Ambassador and am a part of the UT branch of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Beyond all of this, I spent my time serving as a Senator in the SGA Undergraduate Senate, first as a representative of the Central Area. This was my introduction to SGA, and I was immediately fascinated by the potential for change that the body had. I continued my career in the Senate and represented the Tickle College of Engineering the next year in the same capacity, finding a home within SGA and what it has to offer.

These experiences throughout my time at UT, both in SGA and outside of it, gave me many opportunities to grow individually, while also transforming myself into a leader to help advocate for fellow Volunteers and leave behind a better UT when I graduate. While UT has consistently been improving thanks to the valuable work that has been done by our alumni in the past, our team recognizes that there is still more to be done. I hope to continue building upon the work of our alumni as a true representative of the Volunteer Creed and light the way for all students in my time in this role.

One of the things that I have always enjoyed is meeting new people. If you ever find yourself in Knoxville, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at sga2@utk.edu or swing by the office in the Student Engagement Suite while checking out our new Student Union! Whether it be about football or some of the changes around UT, I would love the opportunity to speak with you and look forward to it!

With Big Orange Pride,
Raj Patel

 

Emma Kate Hall
Hey y’all!

I’m Emma Kate Hall (she series), and I have the distinct honor of serving as the Student Services Director this year alongside this outstanding executive team. I’m a rising senior from Lebanon, Tennessee (the home of our beloved Cracker Barrel), and I’m studying political science with a minor in communication studies. I intend to attend law school, but, as I’m sure many of you understand, I’m not entirely sure what life after graduation looks like (but hey, that’s part of the fun, right?)

I’m involved in many aspects of campus including the Leadership Knoxville Scholars Program, Haslam Scholars Program, and Concert Choir. I’m also a member of the Sigma Phi Lambda sisterhood and Kappa Alpha Pi: Pre-Law and Government Fraternity. However, student services is where I found my real home at UT. I’ve been in SGA for my entire college career, starting in First-Year Council and then falling in love with UT Traditions. I was the Director of Traditions my sophomore year, and I served as the Assistant Student Services Director this past year. I can’t imagine my college experience without the Homecoming Bonfire, participating in the Unity Project, or the countless conversations I’ve had with students about their experience as Vols. Student services has provided me with not only my own fondest memories, but also with the most significant opportunities to serve the campus community and advocate for my peers.

Each of these positions and opportunities has contributed to pushing me as both a leader and a Volunteer. I’m incredibly proud of the work student services does each year to support students and further the mission of SGA, but I know this branch still has so much potential and room for growth. I’m grateful for the contributions each of you have made to this organization and the legacies you’ve left behind, and out of respect for you and each student on our campus now, in this role I promise to give my all to Tennessee.

If anything is true about me, it’s that I never say no to company or miss a chance to go to Cracker Barrel. If you’re ever in our neck of the woods, I would love to share some biscuits and maybe even a story or two. You can reach me at sga3@utk.edu or in our office in the Student Union, room 174. I look forward to having an opportunity to meet each of you in the months ahead.

Be well, and go vols!
Emma Kate Hall

 

Cody Ramangkoun
Hello everyone!

My name is Cody Ramangkoun (he/him/his), and I’m extremely excited and honored to be serving our UT Knoxville Campus as the Executive Treasurer this academic year. I am a first-generation Laotian-American senior majoring in Industrial and Systems Engineering with a double minor in Business Administration and Reliability and Maintainability Engineering. I was born in Chicago, Illinois but moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee when I was 4 years old and have made it my home since.

Since coming to UT, I’ve had the privilege of making Knoxville my “home away from home” by finding a sense of community and belonging that best fits for me. Whether that be through my campus involvements, hiking all the beautiful nature trails Knoxville has to offer, or watching too many TV shows with my college friends (guilty pleasure being anything Bachelor Nation), I value all the experiences I’ve made in college as they shaped me into the person I am today. However, my SGA experiences have and will always have a piece of my heart.

Like many of us, I joined SGA as a First-Year Council member my freshman year where I gained a passion for student engagement and student representation. Since then, I’ve held various other SGA leadership roles such as an At-Large Undergraduate Senator, New Student Life Co-Director, and one of the two First-Year Council Advisors to the 2019-2020 FYC Cohort. Outside of SGA, I also am fortunate to serve our campus community in other student leadership roles such as a Tickle College of Engineering Ambassador, Founding and Inaugural President of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE), and an alternative VOLBreaks Leader focused on Immigration and Refugee Rights.

Just like I stated before, UT has become my true home away from home and your contributions have helped lead to the wonderful education and experiences that myself and others students are fortunate to receive. Each experience I’ve made at UT has contributed to developing myself, not only as a leader, but also as an individual. I’m sure many other students would say the same.

If you find yourself in Knoxville over the next year or want to connect virtually, please feel free to reach out to me at sgatreasurer@utk.edu. I would love the opportunity to meet some of you and discuss meaningful ways of serving our wonderful university while being cognizant and transparent about our finances.

Quarantined regards, and Go Vols!
Cody Ramangkoun