Carlisle Ballantine wanted to find a way to incorporate the business fundamentals she developed in high school with her passion for civil engineering, which she is pursuing at the University of Tennessee.
The sophomore discovered the perfect opportunity with the Heath Integrated Business and Engineering program (Heath IBEP). Ballantine is a member of the Class of 2028 cohort, a group of sophomores that were accepted for the 2025-26 academic year.
“The program allows me to merge both worlds, challenging me to grow alongside peers and mentors who inspire me with their vision for the future,” Ballantine said. “IBEP is truly what you make of it, and I’m committed to putting in the time and energy to get the most out of this incredible opportunity.”
Learning and Working Together
Heath IBEP unites students from the Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) and the Haslam College of Business (HCB). The program pairs an industry-focused curriculum with immersive, professional, co-curricular experiences to develop leaders who are adept at working collaboratively across disciplines to deliver strong business solutions, competencies that are highly valued by employers today.
UT business and engineering students apply in their freshman year and participate in the program from their sophomore year through senior year. The program is based on a cohort structure, meaning students from engineering and business attend several classes together, work jointly on projects, and develop a unique personal and professional bond with their peers.
“I joined IBEP because I feel as though it is the perfect program for me and the best experience I could have here on campus,” said Josie Bruan, a sophomore industrial engineering major. “My professional goal is to be an entrepreneur, in which it is necessary for me to understand the business side of things and know how to work with business students. The opportunities provided by IBEP are like no other and I cannot wait to see where it takes me.”
Real-World Experiences
Ford McLaughlin, a sophomore finance major, heard about Heath IBEP during his first semester on campus and was intrigued by the program.
“After seeing the strong community and endless opportunities, I went through the interview process and was accepted,” McLaughlin said. “After being accepted it was a no-brainer to join IBEP due to the welcoming staff and hard-working students. I am extremely grateful for this program and excited for the upcoming year.”
Hayden Leslie, a sophomore finance major, views the Heath IBEP program as a “differentiator” that makes UT stand out for business and engineering majors.
“There are hundreds of thousands of students who graduate from a top university with business degrees every spring, but there are only a handful that are equipped with the skills learned in IBEP,” Leslie said. “With this program, I will have access to valuable resources, invaluable connections, and unique learning experiences that cannot be achieved anywhere else.”
Ralph Heath (TCE ’70, HCB ’75), the retired president of Lockheed Martin, established the initial endowment for Heath IBEP in 2014. The inaugural cohort was the Class of 2020, and the program has continued tobuild momentum each year.
“IBEP students learn from the outset that success in the real world demands cross-functional collaboration between the business and technical disciplines,” Heath said. “In the nearly 10 years since the inception of the program, the results have become clear: IBEP graduates are better prepared when they enter the workforce and progress more rapidly in their careers.”
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey ([email protected])