When Emma Van Hee (’21, ’23) arrived in Chattanooga in August 2017, she had never set foot on campus. Coming from Belgium, she relied on conversations over Skype, a tennis scholarship and a belief that the opportunity ahead was worth the leap.
Eight years later, Van Hee is a two-time graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, a former standout on the women’s tennis team, a data analyst and a member of UTC’s Alumni Board of Directors.
“I knew I wanted to go to college in the U.S.,” Van Hee said. “After talking with the coach, UTC felt like the best fit. I decided to take the opportunity.”
Leading on the Court
Van Hee played five seasons with UTC women’s tennis, competing primarily at the No. 1 doubles position. While her résumé includes conference recognition and weekly honors, she said the relationships she built with teammates stand out most.
“Every year the team looked different, but there were always laughs and great memories,” she said.
One highlight came during her sophomore year when the team traveled to Fort Myers, Florida, for spring break competition. The return trip included a stop at Universal Studios, marking her first visit to an American amusement park.
Academic Focus and Career Path
Van Hee earned a bachelor’s degree in economics in 2021 and a master’s degree in data analytics in 2023. Choosing economics came down to strong mentorship and an interest in multiple business disciplines.
“I enjoyed all of my business classes,” she said. “It really took one professor convincing me to choose economics.”
Her graduate degree combined business fundamentals with computer science, preparing her for a career in analytics. She now works as a Tableau and data analyst for New York Life Group Benefit Solutions, creating and maintaining data reports used across operations, service and distribution teams.
From Tennis to Pickleball
Away from work, Van Hee has found a new competitive outlet in pickleball. While she mostly plays recreationally, she has competed in several professional tournaments across the country, including events in Boise, Charleston, Dallas, Las Vegas and Virginia Beach. She was even a couple of points away from playing the best in the world.
She credits pickleball’s rapid growth to its accessibility.
“It can be as competitive or as casual as you want it to be,” Van Hee said. “It’s easier to pick up than tennis, which makes it fun right away.”
An International Student Experience
Van Hee said her transition to school in the U.S. was not without challenges. Early on, language barriers and her accent sometimes led some to underestimate her academic abilities.
Support from UTC’s Center for Global Education helped her adjust. The center provided resources, programming and guidance on visa requirements, class selection and campus involvement.
“I was very homesick my first semester,” she said. “The CGE kept me busy and helped me connect with others who were going through the same thing.”
Staying Connected to UTC
Although she is from Belgium and a big fan of Belgium’s trifecta of food – fries, chocolate and beer, Van Hee has chosen to remain in the U.S. for now. She said Chattanooga’s sense of community, along with her career and ongoing connection to UTC athletics, made the decision an easy one.
“UTC is where I became an adult, earned two degrees and got my job,” she said. “It truly is a special place.”
That connection led her to serve on UTC’s Alumni Board of Directors, where she continues to support the university that took a chance on her. “I felt honored to represent UTC in a new way,” Van Hee said. “It’s my way of giving back to a place that gave me so much.”