Lisa Patel has been advocating for student involvement since high school, when the local school board wanted to get rid of International Baccalaureate classes. Patel made a plea to the board members to consider how the students felt before making their decision.
It was the first time Patel realized the power of her voice and how much influence she could have when given the chance. Her passion for leadership has sustained at the University of Tennessee. It’s why she jumped at the chance to apply for the student trustee role on the UT System Board of Trustees for this academic year.
The UT junior biomedical engineering major was selected to the position and has been attending board meetings to be the voice of all college students in the state system.
“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.”
Patel has felt welcomed by the board members and believes they value her input during discussions.
“Absolutely, 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. It’s been a very supportive community, and I feel like they truly want what’s best for students.”
Making a Better Life
Patel is a first-generation college student. Her parents were born in India and immigrated to the United States. Patel was born and was raised in nearby Cookeville, where her parents own several gas stations.
“My parents left India with absolutely nothing in their hands and came over here and have just been working their butts off ever since,” Patel said. “They are so inspiring to me, and although I don’t have to work my butt 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.”
Patel was always interested in attending UT because of its strong educational reputation. Once she toured the Knoxville campus and learned more about the university and the opportunities available, she was ready to enroll.
“I knew it’d be a great place for my leadership ability to kind of bloom, and for me to bloom as a person, student, advocate leader, and all the titles I could put on myself.”
“I knew I was meant to be in a bigger setting, because as much as I tried in Cookeville, my voice could only go so far, and I know UT will be a major stepping off point when I go into the real world and have even more people listening to my voice.”
Advocate for Advancement
Since becoming the student representative on the UT System Board of Trustees, Patel has made a connection with Jamie Woodson, a board member and UT graduate. Woodson has
worn different hats throughout her life as a legislator, businesswoman, and educational advocate.
Patel is hoping to have a similar impact in her career. She wants to work in the engineering field for as long as possible and potentially become a business owner.
“But I also don’t want to stop advocating—ever, ever, ever,” Patel said. “I think a great way to give back to the community is when you have a platform, and you have the ability to have people listen to you. It’s important to say the right things when you can.”