UT Enables This First-Gen Student’s Health Care Dreams
By Abby Ann Ramsey Peters (’24)
September 11, 2026
Johnson Zhang was in his second year at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, when he walked out of a class in Walters Academic Building on a crisp autumn day in his home state.
He was embarking on a typical weekday—squeezing in a quick lunch before making it to his next class—when he noticed a huge tree adorned in orange and red leaves. He decided to pause his journey to spend five minutes taking in its beauty.
The five-minute pause isn’t much for most, but Zhang’s days rarely have downtime. He serves as a resident assistant, researcher in the Krishnan Lab, nursing technician at UT Medical Center, social chair of Phi Delta Epsilon medical fraternity, and president of the Chinese Culture Club.
“We’re always rushing to get to our next goal, and we often lose sight of the beauty that surrounds us and the opportunities we’ve been given,” says Zhang.
Zhang’s family taught him just how valuable it is to take advantage of each and every opportunity. That’s made Zhang grateful for how UT has allowed him to carve out a home on Rocky Top—a home that is equipping him to pursue his dreams of helping as many people as he can.
You meet so many different people everywhere you go. As long as you have a friendly attitude and the willingness and desire to interact with people from various backgrounds, you can pretty much find family everywhere.”
Johnson Zhang (Class of 2027)
Inspired by his first-year experience in a living and learning community, Johnson Zhang is now a resident assistant.
A Home Away From Home
A Kingsport, Tennessee, native, Zhang grew up helping with his family’s restaurant. When he was little, his mother would have him and his sisters run math drills and copy down pages of books on summer breaks. She emphasized the value of education since she and Zhang’s father did not have the opportunity to pursue college educations.
“When I was in high school, I realized how much I love learning new things and how I had this ability to attend college that my parents never had,” says Zhang. “Why wouldn’t I apply myself as best as I can, showing them how appreciative I am of everything they’ve given me?”
Zhang plans to attend medical school after graduation and become a physician. When he envisions his life in medicine, he wants to be someone who addresses healthcare inequity, while caring deeply about patients and staying connected to research.
“When I realized how important it was to apply myself, I also realized I could do that while doing good for the world,” says Zhang. “And for me, that’s health care.”
Being rooted in family has always been important to Zhang. When he arrived at UT, two of his sisters were already students, giving him built-in support as he adjusted to campus. Even after his sisters graduated, Zhang continued to find that same sense of family at UT, particularly through his living and learning community, where he found a home away from home while preparing for a career in medicine.
“I took classes with the people I was living with, and we’d come out of the chemistry lab, walk to the same building, and hang out after an exam. We’d study together or go to dinner or run to Cook Out late at night.
“That was my first sense of family,” says Zhang, who went on to become a resident assistant for the remainder of his college career, inspired by his first-year experience. “Now I can be that resource for first-year students and help create that home for them.”
When you invest in UT, you take someone like me, whose parents didn’t have the chance to pursue higher education, and allow him to pursue dreams like traveling to another country or becoming a physician.”
Johnson Zhang (Class of 2027)
Soaking in His Surroundings
Being a research assistant in the Krishnan Lab has given Zhang yet another avenue to deeply embed himself in the university and pursue his professional aspirations.
The Krishnan Lab—led by Keerthi Krishnan, an associate professor in biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology—studies neurodevelopmental disorders with an emphasis on Rett syndrome. Zhang specifically works on pregnancy and maternal behavior research within the lab.
“Undergraduate research allows students to take their university education and become more engaged with everything that’s around them,” says Krishnan. “It’s not just about questioning things—it’s about taking an interest in our surroundings and why things are the way they are.”
Zhang’s interest in his surroundings spans beyond campus, too. The Mossman Scholars Endowment has allowed him to explore new places and perspectives through a recent study-abroad experience in China. With the help of the Mossman funding and other donor-supported scholarships, Zhang has enjoyed experiences that have prepared him to carry his drive to help others into the world as a UT graduate.
“When you invest in UT, you take someone like me, whose parents didn’t have the chance to pursue higher education, and allow him to pursue dreams like traveling to another country or becoming a physician,” says Zhang.
Dan Wang, a distinguished lecturer in the Department of World Languages and Cultures, helps oversee the Chinese Culture Club and served as a faculty leader on Zhang’s trip. During the program, Zhang demonstrated strong leadership by helping host the closing ceremony and facilitating communication between the group and local community members.
“What stands out to me is Johnson’s ability to connect people from different backgrounds,” says Wang. “Through his leadership, he helps create opportunities for people to learn from one another.”
Because of the experiences UT has offered me, I’m confident that I can find success in anything I do. I’ve seen how much love people have for UT and how much they want to help the next generation of students. The support I’ve received from UT donors makes it possible for me to apply myself, take every opportunity that comes my way, and pursue my dreams of becoming a physician and helping others.”
Johnson Zhang (Class of 2027)
Finding Family Everywhere
Cultivating community—whether it’s in the lab, residence hall, or beyond campus—has become incredibly important for Zhang. It’s one of the many ways in which he surrounds himself in the beauty of the world and reminds himself of the opportunities he’s been given as a student on Rocky Top.
“You meet so many different people everywhere you go,” says Zhang. “As long as you have a friendly attitude and the willingness and desire to interact with people from various backgrounds, you can pretty much find family everywhere.”
Bequests to UT leave an indelible mark and have the power to transform lives
Established by the late Ken (’70, ’73) and Blaire (’71) Mossman, the Mossman Scholars Endowment helps as many as 10 students each year travel internationally for language study with $3,000 for travel, tuition, books, and other related educational expenses. The Mossmans deeply valued curiosity and discovery, and the scholarship established through their estate gift provides priceless experiential learning opportunities—like senior Johnson Zhang’s study abroad program.
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