Talkin' Tennessee with Yvonnca
Talkin' Tennessee with Yvonnca
Transforming the College Experience with Dr. Amber Williams, Vice Provost University of Tennessee
Discover how the University of Tennessee is redefining student success with Dr. Amber Williams at the helm. She outlines transformative initiatives like deploying the CliftonStrengths assessment to help students capitalize on their unique capabilities and build self-assurance. Dr. Williams also shares her innovative approach to reshaping the orientation experience, stretching it throughout the year to foster a nurturing and inclusive environment. Our conversation highlights the critical role of fall success teams and academic coaches in guiding students, as well as the celebration of their achievements from the moment they step onto campus, creating a welcoming and family-like university atmosphere.
If you are looking for a Realtor, don't forget to call The Landes Team to help you buy and sell!
Yvonnca Landes
Realty Executives Associates
865.660.1186 or 588.3232
www.YvonncaSellsRealEstate.com
Adrienne Landes
Realty Executives Associates
865.659-6860 or 588.3232
Click here: https://linktr.ee/talkintnwithyvonnca
Turning Knox Rental (Event Rental Services): www.turningknoxrental.com
Landes Home Collection Online Store: www.landeshomecollection.com
For promotion inquires please contact Yvonnca Landes. 865-660-1186
All Copy Rights are owned Yvonnca Landes and the Landes Brand ©. To gain legal access contact David Landes 865.660.6860 or theappraisalfirm@charter.net
Produced and engineered by: Adrienne Landes
Thank you for listening! Follow us on social media! https://linktr.ee/talkintnwithyvonnca
Check us out to hear the latest on life in the volunteer state. Yvonca and her guests discuss everything from life, love and business with a Tennessee flair. It's a Tennessee thing, always relatable, always relevant and always a good time. This is Talkin' Tennessee, and now your host, yvonca.
Speaker 2:This episode is brought to you by Turning Knox Rental, your go-to for event rental services. We have selfie machines, 360 photo machines and food servicing machines that you can rent out to give your parties the best experience possible. Get the TKR experience with Turning Knox Rental. You can find us at wwwturningknoxrentalcom.
Speaker 3:Welcome back to Talking Tennessee with Yvonca. I am your host and we are back with Dr Amber Williams for part two. Let's go.
Speaker 4:Oh, thank you. So much fun last time, so I'm excited.
Speaker 3:That is good. So tell me this what steps are you taking to empower scholars' success?
Speaker 4:What are?
Speaker 3:you doing.
Speaker 4:You know there's so many things, but I'm going to first focus on this. I'm going to give you two things. The first is every single one of our students takes the CliftonStrengths assessment, which is an assessment that helps anyone understand what they're good at, and you know we want to build our students' confidence.
Speaker 1:So when they come to campus.
Speaker 4:I want them to know they're awesome.
Speaker 2:I mean at the end of the day like you have what it takes to thrive you just got to learn how to leverage what you have, because a lot of times none of us like we don't know how to leverage what we have, and so our goal is to teach them that, and that's where our fall success teams come in and their academic coach helps them to think about. Ok, this is what I'm good at.
Speaker 4:Now how do I apply it to my long-term goals? The second thing that we do I think that supports students is OK. Probably when you went to college or at least when I went to college the orientation process was this day long. Everybody was talking to me, it was very boring and it was during the summertime.
Speaker 3:And then I come back. It's like they're saying wow.
Speaker 4:Exactly right, and then you come back in the fall and you know there's a bunch of fun activities and then they just leave you.
Speaker 1:I mean you just run on campus and I guess you've been oriented and you're supposed to know what's going on.
Speaker 4:And you know we don't believe in that here. We believe that the orientation process takes an entire year.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:And so we start during the summertime with them. We have some required activities when they start school, and then there's six weeks of welcome, so six weeks of 600 activities to get them acclimated to campus, Then at the end of the semester we have what we call Big Orange Finish Line, which is preparing for finals.
Speaker 1:Then they go home and I tell them all the time you go home and you celebrate being on the Dean's List.
Speaker 4:And then you come back to us in the spring and we have what's called Fall Star Back and we reorient them again in the spring Because you know, there's things they probably forgot or they didn't use or didn't know how to use it from the fall semester.
Speaker 3:And then we do six weeks of welcome again.
Speaker 4:I mean, that's amazing right, that's amazing.
Speaker 3:Right, I mean we did not get that.
Speaker 4:No, we didn't either.
Speaker 3:It was sit down speaker and then you're sitting there the whole time like can this be over already?
Speaker 4:exactly, I mean you, you know Right, and so what we think is that students need to hear things multiple times.
Speaker 3:Not even just students People need to hear things multiple times before they actually hear it.
Speaker 4:So we're trying to find a number of times that we deliver information to them so that's why we're having that throughout the entire year.
Speaker 3:Can I name one thing? Yes, why we're having that throughout the entire year? Can I name one thing that I would say? That I think and you may already do this, but one thing that you need to remind the students they had to make it to UT, they had to qualify for grades and everything else. You start there.
Speaker 4:Oh my gosh. So it's so funny you say that.
Speaker 3:so funny to remember that you know, because there's kids that have low self-esteem that has made it in and not realized. Maybe someone didn't tell them. Do you realize that you made it into a university on your own merit?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:And let's, let's build from there. I think that a lot of kids, once they make it in, and their parents are happy okay, oh, you made it. I think that more talk needs to be about that because I think it'll strengthen those students to realize I really made it into university because there's so many generations that they're first generation. Yes, nobody in their families ever went to college.
Speaker 4:So it's funny you say that, because one of the required activities that they go to is a session with me and we talk about their story.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:And how their story matters, and one of the first things that I tell them is that they earned the right to be a part of this class and I use the word earned- Because that's what they did. Yes, it is what they did, and I want them to know that they are among the best in our state and in our country and we believe in them and we wouldn't have admitted them if we didn't.
Speaker 3:You believe in them and you support them. Yes, you support their walk at the University of Tennessee. Yes, support their walk at the University of Tennessee. I see so many students when we're doing events. Come like from all different walks of life, but when they get to University of Tennessee they're all the same. If you think about it, you know, because it's all you know, university of Tennessee, and I love that y'all make it like a big family we do.
Speaker 4:You know we do so in that that session I was talking about we. We talk about their story and we talk about all the steps of a story. You know what is your central theme of your story, which is to get a degree.
Speaker 3:So we talk about the importance of like doing what they said you're to do.
Speaker 4:Yes, uh, we talk about and we tell them how to engage the faculty. I mean, we don't assume they already know. I think when you make assumptions that's not a place to start and I'm 18 years old.
Speaker 3:Yes, I can think of myself. When I was 18 years old, I did not know how to present myself the right way, correct way, present myself the right, correct way. I needed somebody. What you said earlier about that you had mentors throughout your life that taught you to get you up there. You know that's what a lot of the kids need, because no one's coming out of high school speaking perfectly.
Speaker 4:Absolutely, and I think it's different. You come out of high school and then you engage with faculty who have PhDs, who are experts in their area, can be intimidating, very intimidating and um, and especially intimidating for someone who might be the first from their family to go to college, and so what we've done is like in that session, I tell them the this is what successful students do if you want to get this the your central theme, which is your degree, one of which is engaging your faculty, and we teach them how to do that.
Speaker 4:Yeah, we teach them that successful students go to what we would call our vol study center, which is like our tutoring place, but we don't call it tutoring, right, uh, but but successful students and we show them the grades.
Speaker 1:Students who go to the study center their grades look like this.
Speaker 4:Students who don't they're great like this you decide, you decide so we teach them, um, but then the second thing we tell them is that every story has a series of editors. Yeah, every story. No story is written perfectly the first time and we tell them that it's rewritten right rewritten and I tell them if there's something that has happened in your story.
Speaker 4:Don't rip out the pages of rave some things. Yes, you know, you don't have to start completely over and their editors are their fall success team, who I've mentioned before, and then we tell them about. You know, every story has a series of characters and their characters are each other, their characters in each other's. How do you treat the people in your life? You treat them with love, and compassion, correct and as volunteers. That's what we do. We stand up in moments, big and small, and we lead.
Speaker 3:And we cry together. Yes, we laugh together, we do.
Speaker 4:We hug, we share all that we are characters in each other's stories and we teach them.
Speaker 3:Yes, we are characters in each other's stories and we teach them. Yes, when someone is going through something we huddle, we huddle. It's like you know. Okay, what can we do? Do they need food? Do they need this? Do they need that? The students have to have a huddle too.
Speaker 4:And I think it's a way it's inclusive excellence. It is by realizing that everyone around you matters and everyone around you is a part of this big volunteer family and we treat each other with respect and love yeah and then the last thing that we talk to them about is that every story, no matter what the story is, there's always some big challenge. Okay, but the main character always ends up being fine yeah they're fine, they make it through right.
Speaker 4:And so when you hit that challenge, where do you go? Who do you talk to? Because you're going, they make it through right. And so when you hit that challenge, where do you go?
Speaker 1:who do you talk to because you're going to hit it we tell them like it's not disney world no, you're, you're going to have some moments that you want to call your mom,
Speaker 4:and say I'm ready to go home, yeah, and, but instead of doing that, this is what we want you to do.
Speaker 3:Or, when you call home, we want to tell mom, mom, you call us and let us help you figure out the next step, what I believe and this is what I teach when I speak a delay is not a deny, yes, and a delay is not a failure. Oh, I love that.
Speaker 3:A lot of times people and I know I had to learn that I'm 53 years old, but did I know that when I was young? I didn't. And a lot of times you think, okay, because it didn't go in your timing, that you failed at it. A lot of times you're not failing at it, it's just God's timing and a delay is not a deny, and you just have to keep working at it. And you got to know everybody gets a time. It just may not be when you want it to be.
Speaker 4:I love that. I was just right before we came here. I had a meeting with a veteran and she was telling me that she's not doing so well in her math course and was really frustrated by that. And I said well, honey, let me tell you something. I got a C in my math courses, in, in, in, not in high school, in college, and I earned every, every C like. I worked very, I earned it, I worked hard and I earned every C Like I worked very.
Speaker 1:I earned it I worked hard.
Speaker 4:That was not my strength. Now, if you go to my other courses, a's, I did very well.
Speaker 3:Yes, but math was not my strength. My daughter was the same way, yeah, but I worked hard, but we had to learn as parents. Yes, and I'm going to say this, I'm going to judge myself we have a household that we believe that you're supposed to have A's, yes, b's, but a C to us is like failure.
Speaker 4:Exactly Like you failed a class.
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 4:And that's how she was taking it today.
Speaker 3:But I had to learn that if I see my daughter working hard, I see my son working hard and they're going to tutor, they're doing, they're doing the work Exactly and they come in with a strong C. I have to realize that that's just a subject that they don't excel in. You know the A's and B's, but that doesn't mean that they failed.
Speaker 4:Exactly, and that's how my mama was. She was wonderful. She was wonderful because she knew I was working hard and I'm going to tell you that if I would have come home with that C and she was disappointed in me, it would have killed me.
Speaker 4:Because I really did work hard for it. But what I told this young woman today is I said, honey, I have a doctorate degree. That seed did not stop me from doing anything that I needed to do. I said you need to. At the end of the day, for me, if I can go to sleep and know I tried my best, I'm good.
Speaker 3:I'm good and you have to realize that. And and parents I know a lot of parents will listen to this um know, make sure your, your, your child, puts in the work, make sure that they're dedicated, yep, but really learn your child yes and realize yes that you know what, if that's the their best, you have to support their best. You can't kill their spirit, you can't talk down to them, because what you say to that child during that moment of frustration can hurt them throughout their life.
Speaker 4:And I think success is relative. Right. I think each one of us gets to determine what success looks like. Yes and success is different it is and historically I think higher ed and just our society in general has decided what success looks like.
Speaker 3:I agree, and it's always. People think success is if you have a lot of money. Yes, there's a lot of people that are very highly successful. They may not have a lot of money in their bank account, but they pay their bills, they make sure everything is done and they're successful in their own right. You know. So I tell people.
Speaker 3:Success looks different to everybody. It does, you know, and you've got to understand. Well, let me say this I am a person that if you're in my circle, I hold my friends accountable, but in return, I want them to hold me accountable Absolutely. If I am not working to the best of my ability, I want my friends to tell me you're mocking, you're smacking, you're better than this, you know that type thing. But even with accountability, you have to realize you have to meet people where they're at, and sometimes it may not be where you think it should be. You have to meet them where they're at and then help them along the way, because people help does so let me ask you this, because people helped us. So let me ask you this For every young black girl out there. It may some parents speak life in them, some may not. What does Amber Williams say to the little black girl that says I can't do this, I'm not going to be anything, what would you say?
Speaker 4:You know, I think about Amber Williams when she was a little girl. She was the loudest person in the room still is, by the way. Um, I was tap dancing down the aisleways in the grocery store. Um, Probably still will be. Yeah, very, I was organizing student organization type things in high school and I never thought I was enough. I remember as a little girl praying that I would have lighter skin because I thought that that equated to beauty. Come on, thank God, I use you.
Speaker 4:So, what I would say now is be your authentic self. God gives you so many talents and at the time you don't always know how you're supposed to use them. But that loud voice now is a voice for the voiceless. Um, that tap dancing down the hallway, down the grocery store when mom was going off, like she would tell you she was not happy with me yes um, but that is how I'm able to show up and show out on behalf of students each day, and this dark skinned girl is beautiful.
Speaker 1:And I know that.
Speaker 4:Yes, inside and out, and, but I think you just have to find your voice. You do, and, but I think you just have to find your voice and know that everything you've been given will come to fruition at some point.
Speaker 3:And God didn't make everybody to be quiet. God didn't make everybody to be loud.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I didn't make everybody, yes, to be you. He made us one of a kind, and I think I can relate to you because I was the loudest one I'm coming from here in Tennessee and I was the talking one and I was the one that you know hey, let's do this. And I was the rah-rah. I never realized, and at a young age there was a lot of people that made me feel like that. That was going to hurt me. You talk too much. Yes, you're too loud. You're too loud, but look how God changed it. Yes, look how God showed with this podcast.
Speaker 4:Absolutely, if I wouldn't have had that voice and I would have allowed people to you tear that down, I imagine me and you would have never done this, never connected and I you know now with my daughter Avery uh, that she's eight and she is definitely a leader, and so she's got a loud voice, she's chatting away, she's mingling, she's doing all the things, and I empower her so much and whatever I can do to help that little lady meet whatever goal she has, I'm not going to stifle that energy.
Speaker 3:No, I just want to help build it. Yeah, and you have to understand that everybody and I do think the past generations did great jobs where they were at, absolutely. But I think the biggest thing is that we're trying in this generation, to let people be who they are. Yes, and that's good enough. Accept people at who they are yes. So we're going to end this podcast like this what's next for you? Oh, I have no idea what's next. I don't know.
Speaker 2:It could be in family.
Speaker 3:It could be in work. What's next? What can we get excited?
Speaker 4:about. Well, let me just say this I always feel like my steps are written for me and I just follow the path that I have. Especially from a personal perspective, from the university perspective, what's next is we are going to be really working with the state to increase the workforce and sending them amazing, talented young people that are ready to give back and be wonderful members of this community. Yeah, that's the next step for us as a university. And let me just say this I've been interviewed by lots of different people the positive energy that you have it is actually why I was attracted to both of you at that event, but positive energy is what we need in life every single day, and that energy is what makes people feel welcome.
Speaker 4:So when we're talking about creating an environment where people matter, you are a very important part of that. Thank you for giving voice.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:And thank you for inviting me on this. It's been such a pleasure to get to know you and I can't wait to see what all you have in store.
Speaker 1:Thank you. You're asking me what I have in store, but I know there's so many steps left for you.
Speaker 4:So kudos and congratulations and thank you for this.
Speaker 3:Most definitely, and we're going to do more together. Tune in every Friday to Talkin' Tennessee. Bye, guys.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening to Talkin'essee with yvonca. Watch out for our weekly episodes from the first family of real estate and check us out on the web wwwyvoncasalesrealestatecom. See our videos on yvonca's youtube channel or find us on facebook under yvonca landis, and twitter at yvonca landis. And don't forget to tell a friend about us until next time. Yvonca Landis. And Twitter at Yvonca Landis. And don't forget to tell a friend about us Until next time. Yvonca signing off.