Two seniors from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business have received national recognition from Poets&Quants for Undergrads. The publication named Diamond Maria Clark and Timothy Held to its 100 Best and Brightest Undergraduate Business Majors of 2025 list.
Now in its 10th year, the list honors 100 senior business majors who made big impacts on their programs and personified the best of their classes. To compile the list, Poets&Quants invited schools from its Top 50 undergraduate ranking to participate.
Diamond Maria Clark: Academic Excellence and Financial Savvy
“I am incredibly humbled to be selected as a P&Q Best and Brightest business major, especially among the many talented and hardworking peers I have studied with and looked up to throughout my time in the Haslam College of Business,” said Clark, a finance major from Memphis. “As I’ve progressed through college, I have been continually inspired by the drive, intelligence and leadership of the seniors ahead of me, making this recognition even more meaningful.”
Throughout her time at UT, Clark has excelled consistently in the classroom and beyond. She has maintained a 3.82 GPA while being involved with numerous campus organizations and activities.
Business faculty have praised Clark for her analytical skills, financial savvy and innovative thinking. During her junior and senior years, she managed the McClain Fund, one of four student-managed investment funds within the college’s Torch Fund program.
Clark has served as co-president of the Diverse Organization of Business Students and as an advocate for the Community Advancement Program in the college’s Office of Access and Community Connections. Through UT’s Clay and Debbie Jones Center for Leadership and Service, she was an inaugural member of the Volunteer Impact Academy.
After graduating in May, Clark will begin her career at J.P. Morgan, where she interned in 2024. She believes UT has prepared her well for the next chapter of her life.
“Through rigorous coursework, hands-on learning experiences, and invaluable mentorship from faculty and peers, I have gained a world-class foundation in finance and business,” she said. “By seizing opportunities to maximize my education, grow as a business student and serve as a Volunteer, I feel confident in my ability to embrace any challenge and transform obstacles into opportunities.”
Timothy Held: Machine Learning and Leadership
“Being nominated and selected is such a great honor, and having the opportunity to represent my college, community and university means the world to me,” said Held, who hails from Cleveland, Tennessee. “The Haslam College of Business has given me skills, opportunities, experiences, mentors and friends that have changed my career and life trajectory, and I am so thankful for everyone that invested time and effort in giving me a chance to grow and make a difference.”
Held is majoring in business analytics, supply chain management and data science. With a GPA of 3.89, he has distinguished himself academically as a member of the Haslam Leadership Scholars — UT’s most prestigious undergraduate honors program — and the Melton Scholars Program, which connects exceptional undergraduates with business analytics and statistics faculty to conduct academic research.
Beyond the classroom, Held has demonstrated exemplary leadership skills. He served as president of the Student Alumni Associates, as a member of the Provost’s Student Advisory Council and the Haslam Student Advisory Council, and as a lead ambassador for the college.
Faculty have lauded Held for his technical prowess and problem-solving abilities, which served him well during internships with the Tennessee Valley Authority, Dell Technologies and UT men’s basketball. As a project for Melton Scholars, he developed a machine learning model to forecast how top college basketball players would perform in games.
Held will graduate in May and enter UT’s 10-month Master of Science in Business Analytics program this summer.
“I have had a transformational four years at UT and have developed into the person I am today because of the people here,” he said. “I learned how to push myself out of my comfort zone and how to develop strong and new relationships. I feel prepared today to move into a new environment, be a vocal and active leader, and be a proud and loud Vol for Life.”
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Stacy Estep (865-974-8304, sestep3@utk.edu)