Hi! I’m Hayes Anderson, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville will always hold a special place in my heart. Here is where I found my footing in sustainability, while also connecting with mentors who believed in me. After graduating in 2019 with a BA in Sustainability and a minor in Business Administration, I followed a winding path, from bartending and AmeriCorps to serving as a graduate teaching assistant, that helped me discover how to have a practical impact on people’s lives through sustainable initiatives. Obtaining an MBA from the Haslam College of Business opened the door to an internship at the Tennessee Valley Authority, where I focused on expanding electric vehicle infrastructure across the Valley and saw firsthand how partnerships can accelerate adoption.

Today, I help implement distributed energy solutions and coordinate EV-related programs at TVA. I oversee the legacy Green Power Providers program, which is a residential and commercial solar buy-back program across our region. My work centers on accessible clean‑energy infrastructure, advancing education, and turning strategy into measurable outcomes. I’m motivated by the communities we serve and the mentors who invested in me. I’m always happy to connect with fellow Vols and sustainability professionals to share insights, learn, and collaborate on projects that move the Valley, and our industry, forward.