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Student Spotlight

Meet Archer Fellow Joshua Menhennett

UT Tyler senior Joshua Menhennett imagines working alongside lawmakers and ultimately serving the public as a U.S. congressman. Thanks to UT Tyler, the Mount Pleasant native now can live out one of his dreams and work for a semester in Washington, D.C., as an Archer Fellow.

Established by UT System in conjunction with former U.S. Representative Bill Archer, the Archer Fellowship Program brings highly motivated and accomplished UT System students to the district. There, they participate in semester-long internships and attend classes emphasizing American policy, history and advocacy.

The Archer Fellowship is one of many opportunities Menhennett has found at UT Tyler. A marketing major with a pre-law minor, he also discovered a unique mix of high-class education and personable faculty and staff.

“One of my favorite parts about UT Tyler has been the vast amounts of relationships I have made with the university community,” said Menhennett, who will graduate with a Bachelor in Business Administration in May 2022. “Never did I believe I would feel so in tune with national- and international- level business, while getting to have such personal relationships with my professors, mentors as well as advisers and staff.”

Since coming to UT Tyler, Menhennett has made the most of his experience and considers his involvement as ways to help him work with and understand diverse groups of people. A founding member of the Soules Ambassadors, Menhennett served the UT Tyler Student Government Association both as a freshman senator and a two-term president.

He also is a founding father of the campus’ Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, serving as its health and safety chair for two years. Additionally, Menhennett volunteers at the East Texas Food Bank and was a freshman Swoop Camp leader in 2019, along with working as an Orientation Leader that same summer.

“The school’s curriculum has taught me the hard skills necessary for being successful in business, but my time in those organizations taught me how to apply and practice those soft skills three years before even touching a professional career,” Menhennett said.

students in classroom He believes students should be excited, but adaptable, in their approach to business school due to the unstructured nature and diverse job market the business world allows. He encourages upcoming and current Soules majors to get involved and follow their passion.

“I have learned so much from shaping my own path, pursuing things I am passionate about and working hard,” he added. “To anyone who thinks they won’t be successful in college, focus on what you’re passionate about, pursue that passion with all your energy, and there is no way you can’t be successful.”

Upon graduation, he plans to further his education and receive a Master of Public Administration, focusing on a governmental affairs career in the private business sector or higher education before vying for public office.

A “big fan” of the Marvel cinematic universe and Captain America, Menhennett enjoys playing recreational sports, traveling, meeting new people, and reading historical books and autobiographies.

Learn more about the Archer Program.

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