{"id":24507,"date":"2025-04-24T13:38:25","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T17:38:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cehhs-wds-dev.utk.edu\/chdfs\/?p=24507"},"modified":"2025-04-30T09:10:02","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T13:10:02","slug":"grad-student-spotlight-amber-dispanet-hdfs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/chdfs\/grad-student-spotlight-amber-dispanet-hdfs\/","title":{"rendered":"Grad Student Spotlight: Amber Dispanet, HDFS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We are pleased to introduce Ms. Amber Dispanet, a Master\u2019s Grad student with CHDFS who was willing to share her experience with us. Many wonder what it\u2019s like to come to UT, work with the faculty, and how to set up a social sphere within the college environment. We think Amber gives great advice and perspective, so she was willing to let us share her experience with you all:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As a first-generation college student, Amber Dispanet arrived at the University of Tennessee\u2019s Human Development and Family Science Graduate Program with a deep-rooted interest in the intersections of crime, family, and violence. \u201cMy heart will always belong to the Hokies,\u201d she said of her time at Virginia Tech, where she completed her undergraduate studies. But Knoxville quickly became a new kind of home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drawn to UT by both a strong academic fit and personal connection, she recalled, \u201cI initially applied because I loved visiting Tennessee with my college roommate. But I came to UT because I connected with a professor\u2014we had a great rapport.\u201d That professor was Dr. Megan Haselschwerdt. \u201cShe\u2019s been the most influential part of my academic experience. I feel supported in a way that goes beyond academics. I always look forward to learning from her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dispanet\u2019s research focuses on young adults\u2019 perceptions of intimate partner violence, particularly violence perpetrated by mothers or fathers and its impact on the mother-child relationship. She\u2019s especially interested in how exposure to family violence during childhood affects well-being into adolescence and adulthood. Her academic background in Criminology and Sociology made the HDFS program at UT a natural next step. \u201cI appreciated that UT\u2019s program focused broadly on children, adolescents, and families\u2014not just one piece.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While her initial career goal was to work in a Special Victims Unit, her vision has evolved. \u201cIdeally, when I finish my degree, I\u2019d love to work with a family violence agency to develop and implement interventions for kids and young adults exposed to IPV. I want to use my thesis and coursework to really make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside the classroom, she finds balance in simple joys: \u201cI love Disney World, long walks with my dog Moxxie, wandering through TJ Maxx or HomeGoods, reading on my Kindle, and junk journaling keep me grounded.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community has also played a big role in her graduate school experience. \u201cI was nervous moving out of state, but Rebekah, Sami, and Ella\u2014my cohort\u2014changed everything. I can laugh, cry, and just be myself with them. It\u2019s more than academics\u2014it\u2019s family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked what advice she\u2019d give to others, she offered this: \u201cOf course, academics are important\u2014but don\u2019t lose yourself in the work. Find a routine that lets you recharge. That balance makes all the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We are pleased to introduce Ms. Amber Dispanet, a Master\u2019s Grad student with CHDFS who was willing to share her experience with us. Many wonder what it\u2019s like to come to UT, work with the faculty, and how to set up a social sphere within the college environment. We think Amber gives great advice and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":24508,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_eb_attr":"","_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-uncategorized","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGrad Student Spotlight: Amber Dispanet, HDFS - Counseling, Human Development, and Family Science<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/chdfs\/grad-student-spotlight-amber-dispanet-hdfs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Grad Student Spotlight: Amber Dispanet, HDFS - Counseling, Human Development, and Family Science\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We are pleased to introduce Ms. Amber Dispanet, a Master\u2019s Grad student with CHDFS who was willing to share her experience with us. 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