UT Haslam Graduating Senior Plans to Use Supply Chain to Solve Inefficiencies

Knoxville’s Mali Tumusiime, a senior majoring in supply chain management (SCM) with a concentration in business analytics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business, will graduate in May with an academic record of achievement and involvement.

Over four years at Haslam, Tumusiime has learned how to analyze, optimize and improve the systems behind supply chains. Through internships spanning operations, procurement and analytics, he’s developed a clear interest in using data to reduce waste, cut costs and create more efficient responsible business practices.

Opportunities for Optimization

During an internship with global food company Mondelez, Tumusiime noticed trucks lined up at loading docks, idling as minutes passed by. He saw those delays as opportunities for improvement.

By identifying patterns, such as trucks arrived at already-occupied docks, he helped uncover ways to improve timing and efficiency.

“We were trying to optimize routes, so when a truck gets there, the dock is already empty,” he says. “That way it can unload and leave, saving time and gas.”

That experience reflects the work Tumusiime has focused on throughout his time at Haslam, where he has developed a strong interest in the intersection of SCM and analytics and how those tools can reduce waste.

“Whenever a company tries to reduce waste, it forces them to innovate and operate leanly, which saves them money in the long run,” he says. “Not only does it help the environment, but it’s a win-win situation for both the environment and the company.”

A Purposeful Haslam Experience

Tumusiime immersed himself in both academic and co-curricular opportunities throughout his time at Haslam. He has been a member of the Supply Chain Scholars of Distinction, participated in a business fraternity and regularly attended career fairs, where he secured internships and expanded his professional network. He also served as a peer mentor within Haslam, supporting underclassman as they navigated their academic paths.

According to Cole Burns, director of SCM student development and career management for the Global Supply Chain Institute, Tumusiime’s drive and capabilities were on full display from his first year on campus.

“Mali immediately immersed himself into the SCM department as a freshman, taking advantage of every event he could go to and seeking mentorship from upperclassmen,” says Burns. “By the time he finished his first year, he began to give back to other students in the program. Mali continued to be a role model for other students through securing an additional two SCM internships with fortune 500 companies. He manages to make career development look easy, but he does it while maintaining humility and supporting his peers at the same time.”

His involvement also extended into outreach initiatives through Haslam’s Office of Access and Community Connections (OACC), where he participated in the Take Off and Community Advancement programs. He also worked as a counselor for the SCM Summer Camp, which introduces high school students to UT and campus life.

“As a first-generation student, it was tough navigating college,” he says. “I really loved introducing upcoming college students to campus and how campus life is.”

Through these roles, Tumusiime worked closely with peers and younger students, offering guidance and support rooted in his own experiences.

Clarence Vaughn, executive director of the OACC, says Tumusiime has distinguished himself through both his work and the way he engages with others.

“What stands out most is not just his technical ability, but his commitment to supporting others,” says Vaughn. “He leads with authenticity and purpose.”

Looking Ahead

After graduating in May, Tumusiime will start as a supply chain rotational associate with Grainger in Louisville, Kentucky, where he will gain further experience in procurement, operations and supply chain analytics. The role aligns with his goal of continuing to explore different areas of SCM while applying the analytical skills he developed during his time at Haslam.

Looking ahead, Tumusiime hopes to use data-driven insights to identify inefficiencies in real-world systems by helping companies reduce waste, improve processes and operate more sustainably.

Tumusiime’s focus remains on using what he has learned to make a meaningful impact and to serve as an example to those who come after him. “I’m going to use what I learned here in business analytics and supply chain to combine the fields and see where companies could reduce the waste in their processes,” he says.

Vaughn looks forward to what Tumusiime will accomplish in the future.

“Mali represents the very best of the Haslam, and I am confident he will continue to create meaningful impact as he begins the next chapter,” he says.

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Author:

Parker Holt, student editor

Contact:

Leah McAmis, senior editor, leah@utk.edu

Contact

Leah McAmis

Senior Editor

lpowel20@utk.edu

Haslam College of Business - UT Haslam Graduating Senior Plans to Use Supply Chain to Solve Inefficiencies