Kennedy Anderson took a leap of faith when she enrolled at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She’d never visited campus, never taken a tour. But she packed up and moved from Memphis to Chattanooga, guided by instinct and quickly found a place that felt like home.
“I chose UTC blindly,” she said. “And once I got to Chattanooga, I fell in love.”
From Memphis to the mountains, Kennedy built her life at UTC twice — first as an undergrad earning her degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2022, and again as a graduate student in the Master of Social Work program.
Throughout her undergraduate and graduate years, Anderson found a strong support system through the friends and mentors she met at UTC.
“My best friends came from UTC,” she said. “From freshman year to now, I’ve found my people, my village, and that’s what made the hard days easier.”
That village expanded when she joined the Zeta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, in spring 2022.
“Having my line sisters by my side through so many seasons—there’s no way to pick just one memory,” she said. “They’ve been everything.”
Academically, Anderson said her graduate studies gave her new tools, confidence and clarity about her calling.
“The curriculum challenged me to think critically,” she said. “It helped me grow in confidence and deepen my understanding of who I am and the impact I want to make.”
Through her field placements and classroom learning, Anderson confirmed her desire to serve vulnerable communities. After graduation, she hopes to become a pediatric medical social worker and is considering pursuing licensure and eventually a doctoral degree.
“I want to be in spaces where I can advocate for people who don’t always get heard,” she said. “That’s where I know I can make a difference.”
Anderson said one of the things she’ll miss most about UTC is the campus itself.
“The scenery here is beautiful,” she said. “There’s something peaceful about walking around this campus. It helped me reset when I needed it.”
Her advice to future students?
“Be the author of your own story. Find your people. Build your safe space. And don’t forget to have fun.”