By: Kistler Hunt
Honors alumna Sophie Cole ‘22 has begun a new role working in the Honors program at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville (UT) as an Honors coach, which is built into the Division of Student Success. She had also previously worked at Purdue University’s John Martinson Honors College as a student community specialist. Cole graduated from Appalachian State in the fall of 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in psychology with a minor in religious studies. Her thesis, titled, “I Call Bullshit: An Investigation of Situational Factors Affecting Bullshit Receptivity,” was directed by Dr. Andrew Smith, professor in the Department of Psychology. Dr. Thomas Ellis, professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion, served as second reader. During her undergraduate career, Cole worked part-time as a front office assistant in the Honors College.
In her current position at UT since January 2024, Cole is responsible for advising students in their completion of Honors coursework and academic, personal, and professional development. She works with students in the Haslam College of Business, the College of Communication and Information, the Baker School of Public Affairs, and the social sciences division of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Photo features Cole (second from left) during a staff appreciation luncheon at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. Photo submitted.
Cole credits her job in App State’s Honors College as a major influence on her professional path and current position. She stated, “When I was approaching my own graduation and still struggling to identify interesting careers, all I knew was that I really loved working in student affairs. My part-time job with the Honors College offered more clarity on career direction than anything else I tried. It’s especially helpful in my role to have a background as an Honors student because it allows me to really empathize with my students rather than sympathize.” She further explained that her role in App State’s Honors College aided her understanding of how an honors program operates. She continuously received support from those in the Honors College when discussing her career goals. Cole credits Drs. Garrett McDowell and Heather Waldroup, former Honors College business officer Jessica Yandow, and former Honors College Dean, Dr. Jeff Vahlbusch as important mentors for her during her time at App State. She said,
“Being involved with the program rather than just a member of it allowed me to maximize my time in Honors.”
Cole also credits her Honors coursework, most notably her arts-based writing course with Dr. Peaches Hash, as a transformative experience. She described,
“It completely changed how I thought about myself as a student. Much of the assigned work in that class created space for self-reflection, growth, and skill development in ways that I hadn’t encountered before in other classes. When I talk about the benefits of Honors education with prospective and current students, I think about some of the Honors courses I took and how their alternative pedagogical approaches were so distinctly impactful.”
Cole explained that are many similarities between the honors programs at App State and UT. Both programs are open to any major, involve a four-year curriculum, and require a culminating project to graduate with Honors. They additionally both have an international education requirement. Tennessee’s Ready for the World experience supports global education or global engagement.
Photo features Cole (second from right) with fellow UT staff at their monthly lunch get-together, affectionately titled “Thai, Tie, and Tie-Dye Tuesdays.” The team heads out for local Thai food on a Tuesday, and everyone wears ties or tie-dye. Photo submitted.
In addition to her position as an Honors coach, Cole is currently working toward a Master of Science in educational psychology with a concentration in applied educational psychology at UT. Her graduate program will serve as a wonderful complement to her work in Honors as she seeks to understand how to support neurodiverse learners, particularly students with autism or ADHD. She describes her experience in the program, “Navigating college while struggling with known (or unknown!) neurodivergence can be so deeply overwhelming. Neurodiversity is quite magical, and learning more about it in my personal and academic life has been very fulfilling.”
Cole offers this advice to App State Honors College students: “My heart has always stayed with the high country since leaving Boone. It is such a unique place to live, and the people I met through Appalachian State are so incredibly special to me. Wherever you land after your time in Boone, keep Appalachia close.”
Top photo features Sophie Cole. Photo submitted.
