Peer Education and COVID-19 Vaccinations -

In partnership with the American College Health Association (ACHA) through the Campus COVID-19 Vaccine (CoVAC) Initiative, UTC Campus Support is proud to provide peer education through the utilization of grant funding and the knowledge and resources of the Contact Tracing Team.

Two graduate-level students have been chosen to be your source of all things COVID-vaccine related. Using an established model of peer-to-peer education, the students are the first COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Peer Ambassadors at UTC.

What is vaccine confidence?

Vaccine Confidence is the trust that people have in vaccines, the providers who offer them, and the processes that lead to vaccine development. Review some of the key facts as provided by the non-profit group “VaxxForward”.

Do you have questions about COVID and the vaccine? We have answers!

Meet Your Peer Ambassadors!

Thowaiba is an international student joining the team in her first semester in UTC, she is a graduate student getting her MBA in healthcare administration, passionate about social work and public health projects, “I like being a part of this team, we have great discussions, I’m learning a lot from everyone’s perspective.” A fun fact about Thowaiba is that she enjoys standup comedy and did a gig once in Istanbul!

Kurtis Stechyn is a sophomore at UTC (the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga) studying Pre-Professional Biology with a concentration in alternative medicine. He enjoys hiking, kayaking, and mushroom hunting. He is excited to promote public health with his fellow Health Ambassadors. A Fun fact about Kurtis is that he trained for the 2020 Olympics in Olympic skeet

Sailor Anglin and her dog in front of the Chatanooga walking bridge

Sailor Anglin is a junior at UTC studying Business Management. She is also a Resident Assistant for the UTC Housing and Resident Life Department. Sailor previously worked in the healthcare industry on several COVID-19 teams. She is excited to share her experience and help promote education and understanding about COVID within the UTC community. A fun fact about Sailor is that she studied Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences at Utah State University before coming to Chattanooga.

Mads Ledbetter is excited to join the University Health Services team as the new Peer Ambassador coordinator. Mads is in the process of switching from Psychology to Biology with an emphasis on mushrooms (or maybe bugs). She is currently undecided. In her spare time, Mads can be found foraging in the woods for mushrooms and plants, or drawing, painting, printmaking, crocheting, and sculpting while listening to audio books. A fun fact about Mads is that she used to teach people how to throw axes in the before times!

Watch our new video series Mocs Bust Myths to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines!

Mocs Bust Myths

Library Halloween Open House

Click the button below to view the COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Promotion Competition and Showcase winner along with the other submissions!

Vaccine Confidence Promotion Competition

Peer Ambassador Natalie Parks takes a moment during the library’s annual Halloween Open house to dispel common myths and misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Peer Ambassadors from University Health Services (left to right) Natalie Parks, Mads Ledbetter, and Jillian Saraney pose in their Coronavirus costumes during the Library’s Costume Contest on Friday, October 29, 2021.

Peer Ambassadors (left to right) Natalie Parks, Mads Ledbetter, and Jillian Saraney pose in front of their information table during the library’s Halloween Open House event on Friday, October 29, 2021.

Other Past Events

Wednesday, March 23rd
- Location: Heritage Plaza
- Time: 2:00-3:00pm
- Health Ambassadors Q&A
Friday, April 1st
- Location: Heritage Plaza
- Time: 11:00-1:00pm
- Don’t Be Fooled! (By Misinformation)

Need answers and can’t make it to an event?

You can reach our Peer Ambassadors via email at HealthAmbassadors_UTC@utc.edu or call our office at 423-425-1351, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.

Do you have a passion for health education and COVID vaccine promotion? Are you looking for an opportunity to volunteer or earn service hours for class or practicum credit? Contact Rosa Cantu for more information!

CDC. (2021, September 14). Building Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccines. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/vaccinate-with-confidence.html

The Campus COVID-19 Vaccine (CoVAC) Initiative is a project of the American College Health Association, funded by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention