Angela Thomas is the Marketing & Communications Manager for UTCSW. She is located in Henson Hall on the Knoxville campus.
How long have you worked at the College of Social Work?
I started my job at the College of Social Work in the middle of the pandemic in August 2020. What a strange time to start a new job! It was nearly a year later that I first met some of my colleagues in person. Up until that point, everyone I met or worked with was in a two-dimensional square box on Zoom.
What does your job entail?
As the marketing & communications manager, my job entails all forms of communication for the college and sometimes the university. I work on the monthly college newsletter, program brochures, college website, annual report, advertising, news releases, and pretty much anything that needs communicating. Need something communicated? Let me know!
What is your favorite part of the job and/or favorite part of UT?
I have really liked getting to know the faculty and staff at the college. I have also learned a lot about social work, which I have greatly enjoyed. Prior to moving to Knoxville, I worked as a marketing & communications manager at the business college at Duke University. Working in a business college was a different experience than I have found here at the College of Social Work. I remember during my orientation at UTCSW, I was informed about the Social Work Code of Ethics. That was very powerful and something that has stuck with me all this time. I feel very lucky to get to work with people who care so much about others. It makes me strive to be a better person as well.
What do you like best about living and working in Knoxville?
I was born and raised in Memphis, so I am originally from Tennessee, just not originally from Knoxville. When I first moved to Knoxville, I thought it felt very small. But then the more I lived here, the more I liked that small-town feel. Nothing is too far, traffic is not too bad (relatively speaking), and I always seem to run into someone I know when out and about. I have always been a UT fan, so working at the university feels very natural. And now my daughter is a freshman at UTK, so it has all sort of come full circle.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I would just like to say thanks to everyone for making my first year-and-a-half such a good experience. I have met so many wonderful students, alumni, faculty, and staff, all of whom have UTCSW as their common thread. It feels great to be part of such a strong community of leaders.