Member Spotlight: Odessa Amaya

Hometown: Knoxville, TN

College(s) Attended:  University of Tennessee and Clemson University

Degree(s) earned:  B.A. Art History and M.Ed. Counseling and Guidance Services

Title:  Associate Academic Advisor—College of Liberal Arts:  Department of English

What are your hobbies?  Reading, anything crafty, eating out, and traveling

What was your favorite childhood toy? Play-do and my record player (yes, I am old enough to have owned a record player).

What is your current position at UT? Briefly explain.   My new role is serving as an Academic Advisor for the Department of English in the College of Liberal Arts.

Have you had any jobs prior to your current job at UT?  If so, what were they?  Director of Advising Programs for The Art Institutes, Director of Advising at The Art Institute of Houston, Program Advisor at Savannah College of Art and Design, and Academic Advisor at Clemson University

What is the most challenging aspect of your current job?  Learning all the policies and procedures.  Our college training team and my co-workers have been a great support during this transition.

Why/How did you decide to work in an institution of higher education?   I had the opportunity to do some peer-advising when I was pursuing my undergraduate degree, and I found that I loved interacting with college students.  I had such an amazing college experience, and I wanted to find a way to continue working in a college environment and supporting student development.