AMANI PATEL FINDING THE RIGHT PATH

“I chose East Tennessee State University because I felt it catered to a variety of people who come from all walks of life. I chose this university because I felt like I had a place here.” Amani Patel has always been hard at work – in her studies and in her community. Currently a graduate student working on a Master of Health Administration, Patel said she was not originally on this path. “When I started my higher education journey, it was in pre-pharmacy,” said Patel. “I had started in an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program.”

It took only a single year before Patel would find the route that was right for her, and she credits ETSU’s strong emphasis on public health. “I always thought that I would go into medicine or the medical field. When I discovered public health, I was drawn into it, instantly. Then, I was accepted into the Honors Program. That is something that transformed my life as a student in ways that I could have never imagined.”

Patel said the Honors Program gifted her with experiences that led her to develop and nurture service and leadership, which built the foundation for her current involvement in the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement (LCE).

Allen Archer is a medical student at ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine (Class of 2026) and a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force on a Health Professions Scholarship. He graduated summa cum laude from ETSU in 2022 with a B.S. in health administration and a public health minor.

Archer became the first in his family to attend college and earned his associate degree at AshevilleBuncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech). After enrolling to complete his four-year degree at the University of North Carolina-Asheville, he learned of ETSU through a school fair at A-B Tech. He attended an ETSU open house and spoke with Dr. Karen Kornweibel, who encouraged him to apply to ETSU’s Honors College. She followed up with him a few days