I’m Caroline Barnes, a recent Master of Public Health graduate at the University of Tennessee concentrating in Health Policy & Management and a minor in Epidemiology. I am a Certified Health Education Specialist and am Certified in Public Health. I am a primary Public Health Research Partner for the BeMore TN Project, working to address high obesity populations throughout TN, and Health Extension for Diabetes, working to improve symptom management for people with diabetes in communities across the Southeastern United States. I recently was the lead data analyst for the Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety, and Regulatory Compliance Department at Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB). I am a former Chancellor’s Undergraduate Scholar and graduated from the University of Tennessee (Go Vols!) with a BS in Neuroscience (public health minor) and a BA in Psychology (entrepreneurship minor).

I am currently interested in the failures of the healthcare system seen in diseases, equitable access to care/resources, resilience, and environmental toxin exposures. Presently, I am presenting and advocating for awareness and systematic changes related to Rural Food Deserts.

As part of my interest in creating healthy communities at a general knowledge level, I am curious about A.I.’s role in improving health decisions. A.I. is such a powerful tool that can improve efficiency and decision-making for public health professionals, and I am fascinated by its emerging applications.

Additionally, I investigate neurological diseases that impact vulnerable populations of children and families in Appalachia, the impact of environmental factors such as pollution equity on community health, access to high-quality foods and food insecurity, and mental health interventions for people in stressful situations, including military families, and changes in employment status or social group standings.  

Finally, I am exploring resilience in youth and access to mental health resources in rural communities. This is an area of particular passion for me, as I am from a rural community in Texas and have seen first-hand the impact psychological counseling can make in a person’s life and ability to overcome trauma and adverse conditions. I want to work in equipping people and communities with the resources they need to be resilient – especially in light of the recent devastation in rural Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee.

I love Knoxville, TN, my home area. There is something magical about this little city nestled in the valley between the Smoky Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau. I have loved the engaging conversions, interesting people, great hikes, and even better friendships I developed while at the University of Tennessee and serving my community. Even now, I continue to connect with Vols, serving on the Alumni Board for UT in Knoxville.

Of course, being situated in the heart of the Smoky Mountains makes Knoxville the perfect place to pursue my love of hiking, boating, photography, and being outdoors with my black lab, Smokey Bear. I adore live music, being on the lake, and intentionally connecting with my community by exploring new experiences.

If you ever need to find me on campus, you can always find me taking in and capturing pictures of my community, a mug of tea in hand, on my way to the library to study or at most of the guest lectures on campus! Say “hi” when our paths cross – I would love to connect.

Current Focus Areas: Community health outcomes and interventions, mental health, environmental inequity and long-term impacts of environmental pollution.

Current Projects:

Social Media and AI’s Impact on Digital and Health Literacy: Looking to understand the current landscape of sharing health information on social media and AI’s role in increasing health understanding.

Healthy Extension for Diabetes: a community education intervention for Type II Diabetes in Tennessee facilitated by University of Tennessee Extension and Clemson University.

Lively Communities, Thriving People: a community-engaged project looking to address the systemic challenges in rural community food access by working with community partners to develop community gardens and create regional partnerships.

BeMore TN Project, a CDC-funded project in Partnership with the Tennessee Department of Health and the University of Tennessee Extension Offices to address high obesity populations in Tennessee.

Past Projects:

La Crosse Virus Encephalitis (Dr. Rebecca Trout Fryxell’s lab), MEGA:BITESS Program, Creating a Backyard Buzz (Independent Project)

Presentations and Awards:

October 2019 – 1st Place Recognition in the Tennessee Entomological Society Competition for Undergraduate Presentations.

April 2020 – EUReKA at the University of Tennessee – Had to withdraw due to COVID-19.

August 2021 – Virtual Presentation at Discovery Day

April 2022 – EUReKA at the University of Tennessee – Backyard Buzz Independent Research Presentation

May 2022 – Creating a Backyard Buzz is published on TRACE via UT Publishing

October 2024 – Presenting Lively Communities, Thriving People initiative to the University of Tennessee’s Community Engagement Academy

November 2024 – Awarded Finalist at the University of Tennessee’s 3 Minute Thesis Competition, sharing about Rural Food Insecurity

December 2024 – Master’s Thesis Portfolio Presentation

I love serving and helping the community that has helped me so much! One of my favorite organizations to work with is Remote Area Medical, which offers free health care to underserved areas and demographics in my community and across the country.

My work with RAM has opened my eyes to the importance of healthcare access and education in all communities. This work has given me a practical view of the topics I have learned about in my Public Health courses at the University of Tennessee.