The Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business (Center) is pleased to introduce three student assistants for the 2025-26 academic year: Arnav Pareek, Tashfia Tahrim, and Alyssa Thomason. Kjersti Lukens, program manager for the Center, has supervised student employees for nearly ten years. She says, “This year’s students have been especially eager to jump in. I love their can-do attitudes and spirit of teamwork.”
Arnav Pareek is a second-year business administration major. Although Pareek is new to sustainable business but eager to dive into the topic. He says, “I truly believe that it is our obligation to help others and act in the most ethical way possible. Companies can help the environment and people in a way that is beneficial to their business operations.” Pareek wants to continue learning how to make business sustainable while working at the Center. In his role, he focuses on development research and outreach that can make an impact on supporting the work of the Center for many years to come.
Tashfia Tahrim, a second-year industrial design major, says there’s a lot in common between her studies and her work at the Center – they both blend creativity with practicality. At the Center, Tashfia works on different software programs and has the creative freedom to share ideas and create design content. “Everyone’s been super welcoming, and I’m excited to see what the future projects are,” Tashfia says. She also feels connected to the Center’s work. “What interests me about sustainability is realizing how even the smallest actions can make a difference. Being mindful about what we do can lead to meaningful, long-term benefits,” she says.
Alyssa Thomason, who hails from Cherokee County, is a second-year literature, media, and communication major. When Alyssa started the role, she was already comfortable working with Instagram, YouTube, and other social media platforms, so she was ready to hit the ground running when it came to working on the Center’s social media content and occasionally the website backend. Alyssa is particularly excited to be working with the other student assistants on still and short-form content for the socials. Outside of work and classes, Alyssa advises the First-year Activities Board and is a member of the WREK radio design collective.
The Center team is grateful for the hardworking and passionate student assistants who help them empower leaders to create sustainable businesses and communities.
Guest writer Luke Davidson is a senior at Middle Tennessee State University. He is majoring in English with a focus in creative writing and is working toward minors in history and writing.