Will Eakin serves as the Access & Engagement Coordinator for the Office of Access & Engagement in the College of Education, Health & Human Sciences. In his role, he coordinates events and initiatives that foster inclusion and belonging, such as the Communities of Care and Communities of Practice, engages and connects with students, staff, faculty, and community partners, and manages the social media presence on apps like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

In his undergraduate studies at the University of Tennessee, Will received his B.M. in Music Composition from the School of Music (now called the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music) in May 2021. His experience and background in music composition goes all the way back to West Valley Middle School in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he was asked to compose a one-line melody as a homework assignment. This moment in Will’s life epitomizes how music education can be life-changing for a child, and he is forever grateful for the opportunity to explore music in a more connected and intimate way. In addition to being a composer, he plays piano and violin and has worked for multiple orchestras around the country.

Currently, Will is working towards his M.S. in Strategic & Digital Communications with the College of Communication & Information. This graduate program is offered with an online option, which has been a tremendous resource and accommodation as a staff member. In this program, he has explored various strategic methods and planning with social media, website design, communications, and marketing. He is expected to graduate in May 2025.

In his personal life, Will enjoys learning – and he likes to learn a lot. Oftentimes, you will find him watching a documentary or YouTube video about some random topic or reading an inquisitive article about pop culture or politics. He is most interested in astrophotography, music, languages, politics, and pop culture. If he is not watching a documentary or learning about something, he is attending a concert either in Knoxville, Nashville, or, sometimes, Los Angeles. His three favorite genres are pop, r&b, and classical (leaning more towards film & video game music). Some of his favorite artists include Beyonce, Joe Hisaishi, Chappell Roan, John Williams, Adele, Christopher Tin, and so many more. Lastly, he has an incredibly sassy and energetic Eastern-Hermann’s tortoise named Turtwig (named after the Grass-type starter from the video games Pokemon Diamond, Pokemon Pearl, and Pokemon Platinum)!