presents
International Careers Panel
The International Careers Panel is part of our Global Dialogue Webinar Series. This event will bring distinguished professionals together to share their experiences and insights and discuss the preparation and transition from college to careers, including the tools, skills, and competencies needed to enter the profession, the upsides and downsides of working in those jobs, and internship opportunities in their organizations. These panels are aimed at college, high school, and young professionals, but they’re open to everyone, including TNWAC members and partner institutions across Tennessee.
Wednesday, April 9 I 1:30pm CT / 2:30pm ET – 2:30pm CT / 3:30pm ET
Venue:
University of Tennessee (Toyota Auditorium)
1640 Cumberland Ave Knoxville, TN 37996
Special Needs, Accommodations, and Event Questions:
We strive to be open and inclusive with our events. Please contact us at either [email protected] or at (309) 550-0782 if you need any accommodations, special requests, or have additional event-related questions.
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Moderator:
Dr. Gretchen Neisler, PhD (University of Tennessee Vice Provost for International Affairs, Director, Center for Global Engagement)
Gretchen Neisler, Vice Provost for International Affairs at the University of Tennessee, works with faculty, staff, students and key stakeholders to understand and deepen their engagement as global citizens. Dr. Neisler has successfully managed over $120 million in grant funding to support the work of international research and development. Gretchen believes higher education must support students in understanding their role as global citizens and use the institutional strength of knowledge creation to solve global challenges the world faces. Additionally, she feels the role of higher education in a community is to understand its societal needs and work collaboratively to meet those needs. Gretchen has worked for 20 years to build global networks that enhance research productivity and preparing a new generation of leaders to take the world’s stage by understanding that problems span geographic boundaries. Her passion is derived from the belief that science has the power to positively impact society and higher education is vital to sharing this knowledge with community stakeholders. Gretchen is an experienced leader with strengths in organizational change and team development. She holds a PhD. in higher education administration from Michigan State University.
Panelists:
Major General William B. Hickman, US Army (Retired)
Hickman served 36 years in the United States Army, much of which was spent deployed to Europe and the Middle East. He commanded troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. In 2005-2006, he was a senior leader in the Train and Assist Command in Iraq. In 2007-2008, he commanded troops during the surge in Baghdad. He finished his Army service, first as the deputy commander of US Army Central in Kuwait, supporting operations across the Middle East with an emphasis on Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. His final assignment was as the Director of Strategic Plans and Policy at the Allied Command Transportation, Norfolk, Virginia.
Since retiring from the US Army, Hickman has published a political science textbook, Understanding the US Military, as a co-editor. Additionally, as a Lecturer in Political Science, he co-taught a Vanderbilt undergraduate class on the Iraq War (Spring Semester 2024).
Hickman earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Vanderbilt University and was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the ROTC program. He later earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.
Casey Santos is the (Chief Technology Officer at Caliber)
Casey Santos is the CTO of Caliber, a family of automotive repair and service brands. She also is an independent board director, and advisor with expertise in leveraging AI, data analytics, and cloud technologies to drive innovation and business value while managing cybersecurity, resiliency, and regulatory compliance. Formerly the Chief Information Officer at Asurion, SVP of Business Process Innovation at AllianceBernstein, and CIO at General Atlantic, she began her career at NASA’s Mission Control as an aerospace engineer and later transitioned into IT consulting and senior technology leadership roles at McKinsey, and McKinsey’s private investment office.
Ms. Santos serves on the boards of Omnicom, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (as Audit Compliance and Risk Committee Chair), and Nashville Electric Service, and is a Special Advisor for Generative AI at Vanderbilt University. She has also held leadership and advisory roles with organizations such as the Nashville Technology Council, AWS, Zoom, and Writer. A recipient of honors from HITEC, Nashville Tech Council, WomenTech, and Constellation Research, she holds degrees from MIT (B.S.), Wharton (M.B.A.), and the Lauder Institute (M.A.).
Dr. Krystyne Savarese (Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director, UT Knoxville Center for Career Development and Academic Exploration)
In her role as associate vice provost and executive director of the Center for Career Development and Academic Exploration, Krystyne Savarese strives to ensure all UT students are set up for success in achieving their goals. In this role, she leads the unit’s efforts including career services, employer development, exploration, and the implementation of the Vol Edge.
Krystyne has served in a variety of roles in over 20 years in higher education. She started her career at Ohio State University in residence life, later serving in the Center for the Study of Student Life, and finally in the Office of Legal Affairs where she managed the university’s policy portfolio. Prior to her time at UT Knoxville, Krystyne served as the senior director of residence life at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.
Originally from Southern California, Krystyne has a B.A. in English from the University of California, Irvine, and a Master of Arts in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from The Ohio State University.