- Major: Civil Engineering
- Hometown: Leesburg, VA
- Graduation Year: Fall 2024
- E-mail: griffinbar14@gmail.com
Ambassador Profile
Hey, future Vols!
My name is Griffin Barley, and I am a senior in Civil Engineering here at the University of Tennessee!
I am originally from Leesburg, Virginia, about an hour west of D.C., but I recently moved to Virginia Beach. In my free time, I love to play sports, go to concerts, and be outdoors; hiking and kayaking are among my favorite activities.
I came to UT my senior year of high school on a total whim, but immediately fell in love with the campus, and I couldn't be happier with the opportunities UT has given me!
Throughout my time at UT, I have tried to get involved in different organizations across campus. I currently am a part of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) where I am a member of the Concrete Canoe and Sustainable Solutions Conference Teams. I also participate in undergraduate research. This has provided me hands on experience relating to structural engineering, with the purpose of investigating structural deformations during earthquake events.
As a way to stay active I compete on intramural sports teams ranging from ultimate frisbee to volleyball. Throughout these experiences I have had the opportunity to take on leadership roles, compete at national levels, and travel across the southeast.
Getting involved brought my engineering college experience to a whole new level. I became more passionate about what I was learning in the classroom and met some of my closest friends.
This past summer, I was blessed with an opportunity to do an internship with Kimley-Horn in Virginia Beach, working on the development services team. Here, I was part of the energy team, which mainly focused on renewable solar energy. I was able to grow as an engineer consultant, building my practice network. I learned a multitude of interpersonal and technical skills and advanced in my understanding of site design and land development. The knowledge from my UT coursework helped me get my foot in the door at my internship. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring back practical skills I learned from my internship that will help me in the classroom.
Being an out-of-state student can seem pretty daunting, but with so many opportunities to get involved, you'll find your group. My biggest advice would be to try everything––this is your time to experiment and try new things. Some things might not work out, but here at UT, you have the chance to try things you might never have thought possible.
I have loved my experience here at UT and want to share that with you! If you have any questions about TCE, engineering, campus life, myself, or anything else that might pop up, please reach out, I'd love to hear from you!
I hope to see y'all on campus soon!
Go Vols!
