Written by Eliza Simikian
The Next Movement: Class of 2026
As she prepares to graduate, Sherleen Mwaura describes her time at the University of Tennessee through a single word: serendipitous. It is a term that suggests a happy accident, but for Mwaura, the “accident” of finding her place at UT was merely the spark. What followed, a trail of leadership roles, expanded radio programs, and first-generation milestones, was entirely by design.
The Rhythm of Belonging
Growing up in Knoxville as a first-generation Kenyan immigrant, Mwaura’s world was a “fusion” of two cultures. While she navigated the complexities of identity, music was the constant bridge. It was not about formal training, but about the raw, emotive power she saw in her mother, who sang in the church choir and introduced her to music through passion rather than perfection.
That influence remains central to Mwaura’s understanding of artistry today. Her mother now creates original music in Kikuyu and Swahili and is featured on local radio stations in Kenya, continuing a tradition of cultural expression through sound. Watching her mother share her music across borders gave Sherleen the confidence to do the same at UT.
“I spent a lot of time figuring out where parts of my identity were most represented,” Mwaura said. “I always found that was through music. Seeing my mother use her voice gave me the strength to use mine.”
Growing up, Mwaura did not often see her culture reflected in mainstream media. As a result, music became more than a creative outlet. It became a space where she could process her experiences, connect her identities, and find belonging.
Finding Her Path at UT
The turning point came when Mwaura realized that if the space she needed did not exist, she could build it. This realization was fueled by key mentorship, particularly from Juan Carlos “JC” Quintero, professor of practice and director of music business and communications. For Mwaura, Quintero was the first person in an academic setting to view her as a peer with valid ideas rather than just a student. That shift in perspective gave her the confidence to move from seeking a path to clearing one for others.
Her work with the Music Industry Club (MIC) serves as the ultimate proof of concept. Alongside a small group of peers, she helped scale the organization from 40 members to over 150. What started with no advisor or funding has grown into one of the most influential organizations on campus. Under her leadership as Director of Recruitment, MIC began winning campus-wide awards and transforming the professional landscape for students. The club now regularly hosts industry Q&As and brings professional artists and high-level artist management to campus, bridging the gap between Rocky Top and the global music business.
“We had no advisor, no funding, and no structure,” Mwaura said. “We only had a vision. It takes a group of people believing in something and deciding to make it happen.”
This mindset became her blueprint. Whether serving as a music student ambassador or leading the Black Student Artistic Expression collective, Mwaura’s leadership was not about titles: it was about infrastructure. She had gone from someone who once questioned whether she belonged in college to someone helping other creative students find a place where they did.
Creating Opportunities Through Media and Innovation
Mwaura’s most distinctive contributions have emerged through her work in media and radio, where she has transitioned from a student of the industry to the future of the industry. As station manager of WUTK 90.3 and a co-host for BBC Introducing in America, she helps facilitate a cross-cultural exchange between independent artists in Tennessee and the United Kingdom.
“We get to change the narrative of who gets heard,” Mwaura said of the program, which operates independently of major label influence. “It’s about giving people a platform and a chance to be seen.”
For Mwaura, this role represents the merging of her academic interests, her cultural background, and her professional goals. “It’s the first time everything I’ve done has come together,” she said. This work has also deepened her belief that the music industry is built on the strength of human relationships and empathy. “Music is very personal,” Mwaura said. “When someone shares their work with you, they are trusting you with a part of themselves.”
By stepping into these leadership roles and embracing unfamiliar opportunities, she has proven to herself that the greatest risk a person can take is on their own potential.
The greatest risk you can take is on yourself. Even when it doesn’t feel like it is paying off, it is.”
Sherleen mwauraSenior Music Business Administration Major
The Next Movement: The Open Door
After graduation, Mwaura plans to pursue a career that bridges her passion for media and community, specifically targeting roles in artist and repertoire (A&R), radio, and live event production. She intends to remain in the music industry as an advocate for emerging voices, carrying forward the work she began at UT.
Reflecting on her journey, Mwaura feels that her time at the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music provided the essential foundation for her professional identity. “Between my leadership roles and my work in radio, I’ve refined a vision for my career that I am truly proud of,” she said. “I know this was not for nothing. I want to create that same sense of opportunity for someone else.”
Despite her excitement for what comes next, leaving the university is a bittersweet experience.
Mwaura notes that she will miss the community of the college most of all. She explains that the culture at UT is unique because of the genuine support found among students and faculty alike. “I don’t imagine finding another place where people are so committed to your success both as a professional and as a person,” she said.
For students considering a similar path, Mwaura offers a piece of advice rooted in her own journey. She encourages newcomers to be open to trying everything to see what sticks, noting that the goal of the experience is to gain exposure and inform the trajectory of their future.
“Soak it in, because soon it will be over before you know it,” she said. “The relationships I formed here are going to be forever. My academic journey may be coming to an end, but the legacy of what we created here will stay alive through the dreamers who carry it forward. Keep them in your circle.”
Sherleen Mwaura began her journey at UT questioning whether she fit into the landscape of higher education; she leaves it having redesigned that landscape entirely. She leaves having built a home for dozens of others, proving that at the intersection of music and community, the most beautiful thing you can create is not just a song, but an open door.
