Nicky Anosike is a former University of Tennessee and WNBA player who helped lead the Lady Vols to NCAA national championships in 2007 and 2008. She teaches the Pat Summitt Definite Dozen Leadership Program for Kids U.

Naomi Asher is executive director of the United Way of Anderson County. She is a graduate of Johnson University, where she double majored in music and theology. Asher also earned an M.B.A. in marketing from King University.

Gavin Baker, principal of Baker Labs in Knoxville, has taught thousands of people about social media over the past five years.

Baker has provided training and digital media consultation for companies such as Ruby Tuesday, Pilot Flying J, Volkswagen, and the United Way of Knox County.

Eric Belew is a financial advisor at Brogan Financial in Knoxville. Belew graduated with a B.S. in business administration from King University and has completed additional coursework at the University of Tennessee and East Tennessee State University. He is an Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA).

Esther Blakely, a certified master naturalist from the University of Florida, teaches weekend programs for the Smoky Mountain Field School.

Blakely also leads hikes and elk programs as a certified interpretive presenter through the Elk Outreach Program for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She is a long-standing member of the elite Elk Bugle Corps volunteer group in Cataloochee Valley in North Carolina.

Paul Boyles is president of Paul Boyles Executive Coaching, LLC. He has more than 35 years of progressive experience in human resources within the manufacturing, government, and hotel/casino industries. Boyles earned a B.S. degree in management at the University of Scranton.

James Brogan has an M.B.A. and is the president and founder of Brogan Financial. Brogan is a certified retirement financial advisor and a certified estate and trust specialist.

Brogan was named the 2011 National Advisor of the Year by Senior Market Advisor magazine and is also the host of Newstalk 98.7’s “More Living” with Jim Brogan.

Ronald Browning has taught UT non-credit courses in Spanish for several years.

Melissa Carrasco is an experienced labor and employment attorney whose passion is working with employers and employees to make the workplace work for everyone. She advises organizations on developing and implementing employment policies and procedures, understanding employment benefits, drafting employment agreements and handbooks, and complying with immigration law. She is also an editor and monthly columnist for DICTA, an official publication of the Knoxville Bar Association. Carrasco holds a J.D. degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law.

Terrence Carter is the vice president of workforce and economic development for the Knoxville Area Urban League, overseeing a $3.4 million loan program and preparing grants and investment proposals. He has more than 25 years of experience in community, economic, and business development.

Carter has worked for Knoxville's Community Development Corporation (KCDC) and has served as executive director for the Partnership for Neighborhood Improvement. He earned a bachelor's degree in public administration from the University of Tennessee and a master's degree from Baruch College in New York City.

Carter is a results-oriented leader with demonstrated initiative and creativity.

Kendall Chiles is a freelance nature photographer with more than 25 years of photography experience. His photos have appeared in numerous books, magazines, and brochures, and he has taught various photography workshops for many years.

Dr. ShaRonda Cooper is a professor and assistant dean for students at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She teaches a summer camp in veterinary medicine for Kids U.

Smoky Mountain Field School instructor Wanda DeWaard is an experienced outdoor educator, sharing Earth Kinship with community groups, colleges, camps, nature centers, and teacher conferences since 1974.

Smoky Mountain Field School instructor Liz Domingue is a naturalist, guide, nature photographer, and environmental educator. Through photography, observation, and research, she has studied wildlife, plants, and the natural world throughout the United States and abroad.

Dr. Kelly Drummond is a certified professional in human resources through the HR Certification Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management. As the current director of human resources with the City of Knoxville, Drummond administers the compensation/classification system, talent acquisition, pre-employment processes, employee training, employee relations, succession planning, and assist directors in employee discipline. She previously worked as the vice president of human resource and leadership development with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley and the executive director of human resources for Knox County Schools. She also served as a national trainer for Boys & Girls Clubs of America and facilitated national trainings on leadership, human resources development, employee motivation, and personal effectiveness. Drummond earned a doctorate degree in education with a concentration in human resource development from Lincoln Memorial University.

Jody Dyer, owner of Knoxville-based Crippled Beagle Publishing, coaches authors of all experience levels through the writing process, from idea to published work. Dyer earned a bachelor's degree in finance at the University of Tennessee and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction at Lincoln Memorial University.

Executive chef Greg J. Eisele is director of the UT Culinary & Catering Program, which was recognized by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF) as a quality program.

Eisele serves as the current president of the Smoky Mountain chapter of the American Culinary Federation, and he is a frequent guest chef on WBIR-TV in Knoxville.

Tennessee Rick Elliott is a retired teacher, guidance counselor, and school administrator who now spends his time behind the lens of a camera. Elliott is a certified professional photography by the Professional Photographers of America. Elliott earned a B.S. degree in education from the University of Cincinnati and a master's degree from Xavier University.

John Fawaz, a financial planner for over 22 years, graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in mechanical engineering. Fawaz is a CFP® Certified Financial Planner™ and ChFC® Chartered Financial Consultant®. He is a past president of the East Tennessee Financial Planning Association, alumnus of Leadership Knoxville and East Tennessee Regional Leadership Program, a member of the University of Tennessee Chancellor's Associates and Knoxville Estate Planning Council, and a former Knox Heritage board member. He is also a frequent guest speaker on WATE-TV (ABC affiliate) in Knoxville and maintains offices at UT Federal Credit Union.

Déja Fitzgerald is a graduate teaching assistant in psychology at the University of Tennessee. She teaches the Explorations in Psychology summer camp for Kids U.

Alexia Georghiou is the founder of The Knoxville Happiness Coalition & Life Betterment Through God. She has been a mental health therapist for over 20 years and recently completed a Leadership and Management Certificate online program from Wharton.

She contracts with individuals and organizations to foster engagement and motivation of employees, generate strategies for teams/organizations in transition, and develop healthy habits through life coaching. Georghiou believes the world is a better place because we are in it, and everything we do can shift the culture for the better good.

Randy Harms has more than 30 years of successful sales, management, and coaching experience. Harms earned a bachelor's degree in business management at North Carolina Wesleyan College.

Smoky Mountain Field School instructor Ila Hatter is an interpretive naturalist, artist, storyteller, wildcrafter, and gourmet cook with more than 31 years of experience teaching the cultural heritage of native plants. She is the producer of Roadside Rambles, a wild foods cookbook, and a video series titled Wild Edibles and Medicinals of Southern Appalachia.

Chris Hill is a Knoxville native and owner of the podcast production company, HumblePod. In addition to producing podcasts for nationally-recognized thought leaders, Hill is the co-host and producer of the award-winning Our Humble Beer Podcast. He earned his undergraduate degree in business at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he majored in marketing & entrepreneurship, and he later received his M.B.A. from King University.

Curtis Hixon is an instructor for the Smoky Mountain Field School, leading weekend programs on orienteering. He previously has taught junior ranger programs on compass orienteering and basic map reading in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Smoky Mountain Field School instructor Joey Holt grew up in the foothills of the Smokies and earned his 900-miler status in 2012. He has been a lover of the outdoors all his life, enjoying activities such as camping and hiking.

Deborah Johnson, a certified Microsoft Office specialist, has worked in various teaching capacities in private industry, government, education, and consulting. She has taught computer courses since 1989, including several versions of Windows and almost every version of Microsoft Office products.

Johnson earned a degree in business management from the University of Memphis.

Evonne M. Kautz, EA (Enrolled Agent) is a federally authorized tax practitioner empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and is the recipient of the highest credential awarded by the Internal Revenue Service. In addition to preparing tax returns, she has earned the privilege of representing taxpayers before the IRS for tax issues including audits, collections, and appeals. Kautz is the founder of 5-Star Holdings, Inc., a tax practice in Knoxville.

Steve Kemp is an instructor for the Smoky Mountain Field School. He is a retired interpretive products and services director for the Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA).

Nick Kim teaches the Hands-On STEM summer camp for Kids U.

Patrick Koster has been teaching our ACT Prep Course for Kids U since 2014. He is the principal at Seymour Community Christian School.

Cathy Krane created the Innocent or Guilty camp for Kids U and has been teaching it for over 15 years. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law and a licensed Tennessee attorney. Cathy worked for many years in the commercial insurance industry and is currently working as the Director of Enterprise Risk Management at the University of Oklahoma. She has created and led training programs for coworkers and colleagues for many years and is always happy to return to her hometown to teach Innocent or Guilty for the University of Tennessee's Kids U program.

Paul Lewis is a senior teaching lab and tutor specialist for the UT Department of Physics. He is an astronomer extraordinaire and shares his love of the night sky with others.

Michael Mann leads computer and technology summer camps for Kids U.

Robin Marsh has been teaching LEGO® camps for Kids U since 2014. She is the co-owner of Beyond a Brick, an organization which seeks to build up young minds through LEGO® and STEM education. She serves as the assistant judge/advisor for the FIRST LEGO® League competition in Tennessee and the director of the LEGO® competition at the Tennessee Valley Fair. Robin earned her B.S. at the University of Tennessee.

Tony Mayfield is a senior consultant at On-Target Innovations, LLC, a Tennessee-based technology and engineering consulting firm. He has over 30 years of experience in developing high-end projects, cost controls, information systems, process improvement, process re-engineering, and training with both commercial and government organizations.

He has a bachelor's degree in engineering, a master's degree in information systems, and is currently working on his doctorate in information systems.

Butch McDade retired from Great Smoky Mountains National Park with 30 years of service and has authored two books, The Natural Arches of the Big South Fork and Old Smoky Mountain Days.

Beth Meko is a lecturer in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a grant writer/information specialist for the Center for Information and Communication Studies at the UT College of Communication and Information (CCI). She assists faculty in the four colleges of the CCI with developing, editing, and submitting grant proposals to government agencies and private foundations. She earned a B.A. degree in English at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and an M.S. degree in information science at the University of Tennessee.

Bonny Millard is an experienced freelance writer with a demonstrated history of working in the writing and editing industry.

Millard earned a B.S. degree in communications from the University of Tennessee and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Queens University of Charlotte.

David Montgomery is the lead instructor for the UT Landscape & Garden Design certificate program. With a degree in plant and soil science and more than 25 years of experience as a landscape designer, he is highly knowledgeable in horticultural sales, landscape maintenance, and installation.

An instructor of horticultural topics since 2000, David's main emphasis, in all courses, is presenting practical, usable knowledge to those who want a visually stimulating and low maintenance landscape.

Ethan Pignataro is an award-winning art educator at Gibbs High School in Corryton, Tennessee. He earned a bachelor's degree in printmaking and photography at Georgia Southern University and a master's degree at the University of Tennessee.

Tim Pressley is a children's educator and family entertainer based in Knoxville. He is a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and teaches the Revealed: Balloon Twisting & Magic Secrets summer camp for Kids U.

Holly Rainey is a Knoxville-based photographer and social media manager for a variety of local businesses and non-profit organizations. Her clients include The Maker City, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, and Knox Brew Hub. Rainey is a part of the League of Scruffy Photographers and specializes in street and portrait photography. She is also a contributor to the "8th of August" documentary project in Knoxville, Newport & Greeneville, Tennessee, and published a book in collaboration with the Black in Appalachia non-profit organization and East Tennessee PBS.

Janet Rock is an instructor for the Smoky Mountain Field School. She is a retired botanist at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Sarah Schwing is a Ph.D. student and graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She earned a B.S. degree in psychology and B.A. degree in anthropology from the University of Florida and an M.A. from the University of Tennessee. Schwing's interests include human skeletal morphological variation, virtual anthropology, decomposition and taphonomy, stable isotope analysis, human rights, and clandestine migration.

Tammie Smeltzer is a training specialist at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base near Knoxville and oversees a team of military and civilian personnel that develops curriculum in traditional classroom, online learning, and blended formats. She has worked more than 20 years in adult education. Smeltzer is also a retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant with more than 20 years of service. Aside from teaching, she enjoys serving as vice president of the East Tennessee Military Association (ETMA) Credit Union. She holds a master's degree in adult education.

Shane Smith is a financial advisor at Quality Financial Concepts in Maryville, Tennessee. Smith earned a bachelor's degree in accounting at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He became a Certified Financial Planner in 2014 and completed all three levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst program in 2022.

Alex Stokes is a professional stand-up comedian, public speaker, and author. His book titled 5 Years of This? Husband. Father. Comedian. My Story., is about the world of stand-up comedy and his journey to success.

Mo Tackitt is the lead instructor for the UT-RELYANT Unexploded Ordnance Training Program. She is a retired U.S. Navy veteran with 22 years of service.

Elizabeth Tarulis earned a B.A. degree in archaeology from Cornell University in 2015 and an M.A. in historical archaeology from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2020. Her thesis looked at trade networks using ceramics from three Plymouth colony archaeological sites. Tarulis is now working on a Ph.D. in archaeology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her research focuses on trade and colonialism in the 17th century Atlantic.

J. Wade Tipton owns and operates Gallery Portraits in West Knoxville with his wife, Joy. He is a certified professional photographer by the Professional Photographers of America. In 2015 Tipton was inducted into the Tennessee Professional Photographers of America's Hall of Fame. He holds a bachelor's degree in business management from Mississippi State University.

Joel and Kathy Zachry have taught plant and animal sessions for the Smoky Mountain Field School since the early 1980s. They completed section-hiking the 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail in 2005 and released their first book, Bears We've Met, in May 2010.

Joel and Kathy Zachry have taught plant and animal sessions for the Smoky Mountain Field School since the early 1980s. They completed section-hiking the 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail in 2005 and released their first book, Bears We've Met, in May 2010.

Steve Zigler, owner of Steve Zigler Photography, specializes in landscape and night photography. He leads a variety of workshops for the UT Photography Certificate Program.

Caroline Znachko is a Ph.D. student in biological anthropology at the University of Tennessee. Znachko graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science degree in biological anthropology and a minor in ecology and evolutionary biology. She earned a Master of Arts degree in biological anthropology at Texas State University. She teaches the Bones, Crimes, Careers: Forensic Anthropology summer camp for Kids U.

Amy Zubko serves as a human resources manager at North Wind Group, a government contracting holding entity. Amy is practiced in developing staffing plans and employee programs, managing employee compensation and benefit plans, and developing and implementing HR policies. Amy serves as a consultant on performance management issues, is a business coach and mentor, and works with managers to create development plans for staff.

Amy holds an M.S. in Human Resource Management and a B.S. in Business Administration, both from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.