New Tech Student Trustee Focused On Infrastructure, Growing University

New Tennessee Tech student trustee Addison Dorris said she wants to ensure a positive experience for all students and bolster the sense of community.

The senior from Portland said she will primarily focus on infrastructure for the growing student population and diversity inclusion. She said building up Tech’s resources and implementing accessible transportation is vital to ensuring a positive experience.

“Tech is a growing, growing school,” Dorris said, “Our enrollment continues to increase, which is awesome, but that comes along with having to provide new infrastructure for students.”

Dorris said she looks forward to the future in the role. She said she will work to increase diversity and listen to all voices in order to make Tech a potential home for people of any background.

“I love the community sense that we have at Tennessee Tech, and I just think that finding ways, as our campus grows and changes, to continue to foster that sense of community is one of my biggest goals,” Dorris said.

Dorris said she has always envisioned herself working in the field of human resources, and that opportunities for advocacy are very important to her. She said the student trustee role was on her mind for a while before she took it. She said after her time in student government, this position felt like the right next step.

“I’ve always had an interest in it, and last year, once I finished up my term as student body president, I wanted to still be involved and help make positive changes on Tech’s campus,” Dorris said.

Tennessee Tech’s board of trustees is responsible for important decisions related to student life and campus affairs. Dorris was appointed on June 22 to hold the one non-voting student position.