At each hooding ceremony, the Graduate School works with the campus community to select a graduating student to speak to the graduates for that semester. For spring 2025, Jeronimo Silva, who is graduating with a PhD in comparative and experimental medicine.
His dissertation research focused on investigating infectious and non-infectious causes of disease and mortality in freshwater mussels, one of the most imperiled animal groups on the planet. His choice to pursue a degree that is based in conservation and wildlife medicine stems from a deep curiosity about the natural world and a strong sense of stewardship.
Beyond pursuing excellence in academia, Silva is deeply engaged in the university and broader community, having served as Legislative Committee Chair and Department Senator for the Graduate Student Senate and volunteering with organizations such as the Little River Watershed Association, where he helps teach children about Tennessee’s rich aquatic biodiversity.