Bailee Smith will be receiving a Master of Science in Psychological Science during UTC Graduate School commencement ceremonies. Photo by Angela Foster.
Bailee Smith didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a college professor. In fact, she didn’t even start college planning to pursue cognitive science.
But as she prepares to walk across the McKenzie Arena stage on May 2 to receive her master’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, she is already envisioning life as Dr. Smith.
A first-generation college student, Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UTC in 2023 and will soon complete her Master of Science in Psychological Science. The South Pittsburg, Tennessee, native has accepted an offer to begin a Ph.D. program in cognitive and brain sciences this fall at Louisiana State University.
“Just being from here and having the opportunities that I’ve had are pretty cool,” Smith said. “To be the first person in my family to do this—and to know that I get to continue—feels surreal.
“Grad school is a challenge—and to see everything I’ve worked on for two years come together is emotional.”
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Smith’s journey to graduate school wasn’t always so clear. She initially entered UTC with plans to become a nurse practitioner until she realized it wasn’t her calling.
“It felt so odd to turn away from nursing school because it’s so competitive,” she said, “but I’ve never looked back. Every moment since has validated that this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”
In August, she will start her Ph.D. studies under the direction of LSU Professor of Psychology Emily Elliott—the same faculty member who advised UC Foundation Professor of Psychology Jill Shelton during her own doctoral studies.
“It’s kind of full circle,” Smith said. “I think of her as the mom of the program. Dr. Shelton has been the person I go to for everything and I really look up to her. To now be working with her mentor is just an amazing opportunity.”
Shelton, also the director of UTC’s Psychological Science M.S. program, described Smith as “the whole package.”
“She loves teaching, she’s a dedicated scholar and she genuinely cares about helping others,” Shelton said. “She’s the kind of student who takes advice and uses it not just to improve her own work but to support her peers.
“She’s been thoughtful, kind and dependable—especially in helping me accommodate my visual impairment.”
Smith, who has taught undergraduate classes and assisted in multiple research labs during her time at UTC—including Shelton’s CALM (Cognition, Attention, Learning and Memory) Lab—said those experiences were what helped solidify her goal of becoming a professor.
“Switching paths (from nursing) was scary but I’ve never looked back,” Smith said. “Being here and doing this work has been validating. I just can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Bailee Smith and Dr. Brett Eschman, the director of UTC’s Visual Memory and Attention Development Lab. Eschman has served as Smith’s advisor during her master’s pursuit.
Smith’s master’s research, titled “Investigating the Relationship Between Intelligence and Executive Function Through Visual Scanning Strategies,” used eye-tracking technology in conjunction with a Go/No-Go task to measure how participants managed distractions and regulated behavior. She analyzed metrics like saccades, fixation counts and dwell times—all while correlating them with intelligence scores measured through the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence.
“I was trying to add to this ongoing debate about whether executive function and intelligence are linked,” she said. “They’ve been studying this since about 1927 and it’s still murky. I thought, ‘What if we look at this in a new way?’
“Eye tracking gave me a way to see how people are actually processing information in real time.”
Smith found that participants with higher intelligence tended to use different eye movement strategies when completing cognitive tasks.
“It’s a small piece,” she said. “But that’s what research is. It’s not changing the world in one step; it’s slowly building the understanding piece by piece.”
Assistant Professor of Psychology Bret Eschman, the director of UTC’s Visual Memory and Attention Development Lab, has advised Smith throughout her master’s pursuit.
“Bailee has been my first graduate student and she’s been foundational to building the lab’s success,” Eschman said. “She’s taken on a leadership role—running meetings, training students, managing data quality—and that’s allowed me to focus on the high-level direction of the lab.
“She’s thrived in that role and she’s absolutely ready for the next step.”
Eschman praised Smith’s growth in scientific writing, statistics and experimental design. He also said she has “the rare ability to balance high-level research with service and teaching.”
“She’s excelled across the board,” he said, “and not all students can do that. She’s going to make a major contribution to academia.”
In addition to her work with Shelton and Eschman, Smith has worked with Associate Professor Amanda Clark—also the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences—gaining experience in research, teaching and program management.
“With Dr. Eschman, it was a lot of lab building and task development,” Smith said. “With Dr. Shelton, it was running a bigger lab and doing a little bit of everything—research, mentoring, being a TA. And with Dr. Clark, I helped with course-building and some administrative work. So I’ve seen different sides of academia.”
She said those experiences gave her a well-rounded perspective on what a faculty career entails.
“Once I knew I wanted to be a professor, I’ve never wavered,” she said. “Some people realize it’s not for them, but for me, it just reinforced that this is what I love.”
While juggling teaching, mentoring and multiple research projects, Smith said she relied on staying focused, asking for help when needed and remembering her long-term goals.
“Grad school is intense,” she said. “It’s like a 9-to-5 job plus homework. But I love it. I really do. When a student comes up to you after class and says, ‘I want to major in psychology because of you,’ that’s everything.”
As she prepares to take the next step in her academic career, Smith said she’s grateful for the support she’s received.
“I cried when I got my Ph.D. acceptance,” she said. “I told Dr. Shelton and she was so happy. I told Dr. Eschman and it felt like a win for both of us. Your mentors pour so much into you—and to be able to say, ‘I got in,’ is the best feeling.”
Shortly after commencement, Smith will head to Washington, D.C., after landing a spot in the prestigious Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program (NREIP), where she will collaborate with military-affiliated researchers on projects related to cognition.
The 10-week NREIP—a competitive program with over 800 placements in 62 laboratories around the country—will quickly be followed by the move to Louisiana to start her doctoral program.
Smith wouldn’t want it any other way.
“I don’t really need much of a break,” she said with a smile. “School is such a big part of my identity at this point. I like staying busy and I’m excited to keep learning.”
Learn more
The eyes have it: Dr. Bret Eschman’s vision for cognitive development
Notice of Final Defense – Bailee Smith to Present Master’s Research
“Once I knew I wanted to be a professor, I’ve never wavered,” Bailee Smith said. “Some people realize it’s not for them, but for me, it just reinforced that this is what I love.”
