Honors Coordinator
Contact Information
- E-mail: jjeffers@utk.edu
- BA in History, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2012
- MS in College Student Personnel, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2017
- PhD in Educational Psychology, Adult Learning, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, In Progress
- Member, American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
- Member, TCE Outreach Committee, 2019–Present
- UT Promise Mentor, 2020–Present
- UConnect Leadership Program, Inaugural Class, University of Tennessee,
- Knoxville, 2019–2020
- Experiential Education Training Certificate, 2024
- UTK Community Engagement Bootcamp Certificate, 2024
- TCE Circle of Excellence Teamwork Award, Nominee, 2024
Biography
Jessica Jeffers is the Coordinator for the Cook Grand Challenge Honors Program in the Tickle College of Engineering (TCE). She is dedicated to cultivating a vibrant community of academic excellence and innovation. With over 12 years of experience in higher education, Jeffers is driven by a commitment to fostering intellectual curiosity and leadership among high-achieving students. Prior to joining TCE, Jeffers earned her bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT), where she served on the staff of the women’s basketball team under the leadership of Coach Pat Summitt. The lessons derived from Summitt’s leadership, work ethic, and commitment to students are still prevalent in Jeffers's professional and personal outlook today. Following graduation, Jeffers earned her master’s degree in College Student Personnel from UT, which provided her unique and impactful experiences in various areas of higher education and student success. In her current role, Jeffers collaborates closely with faculty and staff to design and implement innovative learning opportunities, including specialized seminars, research and study abroad initiatives, and community engagement projects tailored to the unique interests of honors students. In addition to assisting with the academic and community engagement facets of the engineering honors program, she is also pursuing her doctorate in educational psychology, with a focus on service-learning in STEM.
Chesnutt, B., Jeffers, J., Knight, L. (2025, February). Increasing the Emphasis on Service-Learning in Future STEM graduates: A workshop on building cross-campus partnerships (Conference workshop). The Tennessee Conference on Service-Learning and Volunteerism, Franklin, TN, United States.
Chesnutt, B., Jeffers, J., Knight, L., Skutnik, A. (2022, October). The Evolution of Engineering Outreach from Silos to Systems (Symposium). University of Tennessee, Engagement and Outreach Conference, Knoxville, TN, United States.
Jeffers, J. (2017, April). Proposal for an Athlete-Centered Orientation: A Study of Cross-Campus Partnerships (Conference Poster). National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Mid-South Region 3 Conference. Raleigh, NC, United States.
