I’m Caroline Barnes, a Master’s of Public Health Candidate at the University of Tennessee with a concentration in Health Policy & Management and a secondary concentration in Epidemiology. I am also the lead data analyst for the Safety and Environmental Compliance Department at Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB). I am a recent graduate from the University of Tennessee (Go Vols! – Class of 2022) with a BS in Neuroscience (public health minor) and a BA in Psychology (entrepreneurship minor).
I am currently interested in neurological diseases that impact vulnerable populations of children and families in Appalachia, the impact of environmental factors such as pollution equity on community health, and mental health issues related to sudden and unexpected changes in employment, social standing/groups, and failures of the healthcare system seen in diseases, equitable access to care, and telehealth.
I love Knoxville, TN, my home area. There is something magical about this little city nestled in the valley between the Smoky Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau. I have loved the engaging conversions, interesting people, great hikes, and even better friendships I developed while at the University of Tennessee and serving my community.
Of course, being situated in the heart of the Smoky Mountains makes Knoxville the perfect place to pursue my love of hiking, boating, photography, and being outdoors with my black lab, Smokey Bear. I have loved getting up at 4 a.m. with my best friends to drive to the Foothills Parkway and take a short hike to see the beautiful sunrise over the Smoky’s. As a part of that, I developed quite an interest in Knoxville’s various breakfast places, diners, and coffee shops!
If you ever need to find me on campus, you can always find me taking in and taking pictures of my community, a cup of tea in hand, on my way to the library study.
GO VOLS!
