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Student Lisa Patel joins UT trustee board
Born to Indian immigrant parents who run businesses in Cookeville, Tennessee, Patel credits her family’s experiences with shaping her perspective.
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Lisa Patel / Image- tickle.utk.edu
Lisa Patel, a junior biomedical engineering student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been appointed as the student trustee on the UT system board of trustees for the 2024-25 academic year.
Patel, a first-generation college student, is responsible for representing student concerns across the UT system and actively engaging with the student community.
“I have taken it upon myself to go out and speak to our community and talk to students and find out what’s going on,” Patel said. “Although I am a student rep, I’m only familiar with engineering and only with a certain part of engineering at that, so I think it’s my responsibility to go out and learn what other parts of our student body are facing or what problems they’re seeing.”
Speaking of her experience on the board, Patel said she has found board members to be receptive to her input.“My voice has been heard,” she said. “I’ve discussed a lot of the presentation material with board members, and they’ve always been so welcoming and understanding from where I’m coming from.”
First-generation student with Indian roots
With her appointment, Patel carries on the fight for student representation that she began in high school when she spoke out against her school board's decision to eliminate International Baccalaureate programs.
Born to Indian immigrant parents who run businesses in Cookeville, Tennessee, Patel credits her family’s experiences with shaping her perspective.
“My parents left India with absolutely nothing in their hands and came over here and have just been working their bu**s off ever since,” Patel said. “They are so inspiring to me, and although I don’t have to work my bu** off in the same sense that they do, I still hope to be a hard worker like they have been and earn what I get.”
“There’s never been a day that I haven’t been grateful for what I have,” Patel said. “Having a whole different culture and a whole different part of me has really helped me see the world and see anything I approach in a different way.”
Patel, who chose to study at UT Knoxville for its academic reputation, also has a strong interest in leadership and advocacy. She has drawn inspiration from board member Jamie Woodson, a former legislator and education advocate, and hopes to make a similar impact in the future.
Patel’s interest in biomedical engineering was influenced by personal experiences, including watching a family member suffer from dementia. “Seeing that was really scary for our entire family, and it made me really curious about the way our body functions and how technology can come together with our body,” she said.
Outside of academics, Patel has a strong passion for music. She plays the flute and is learning the guitar and piano. “My favorite moments in college have been when me and my friends have gotten together to just jam out,” she said.
Patel, who is part of the Haslam Leadership Scholars 2022 cohort, is expected to graduate in 2026.
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