From student to staff, and vice versa: Yosef Addis’s legacy at MC

By Carrie Jones | Oct. 20, 2026

Students and faculty at Maryville College have seen a familiar face around campus for the past three decades, whether in class, in security or, most recently, in the athletic department. Yosef Addis (’19) has made MC a second home, leaving a lasting impact across campus. 

In the 1990s, Addis left his home in Knoxville to attend MC after graduating from South-Doyle High School. He said choosing MC was easy. 

“I wanted to attend a smaller college, stay close to Knoxville and attend a school with a strong academic reputation and great athletic programs,” Addis said. 

As a student, Addis found many opportunities to get involved on campus. He was active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), the Chilhowean, the Highland Echo, student government and the soccer team. He said he fell in love with photography as a student, and the passion lasted beyond college.

“I especially enjoyed taking photographs for the newspaper and yearbook and developing film,” Addis said. “What started as something I enjoyed doing as a student became a lifelong hobby.”

Outside clubs and organizations, Addis worked on campus through the work-study program. He worked in the athletic department and the Global Engagement office and as a resident assistant. He was ultimately recruited to work in the security department, part time during the school year and full time in the summer. 

“Being involved in so many different areas of the college allowed me to get to know the campus, its people and its operations very well,” Addis said. 

Addis said MC had a large impact on him as a student because he fell in love with the campus and developed meaningful relationships here. Because the college gave him so many opportunities and experiences, he said he wanted to give something in return. 

“I wanted future students to have the same opportunity to fall in love with Maryville College that I had,” Addis said. “Working in security became an important part of that journey.”

Addis said his transition into security felt natural because he was already familiar with the College, its people and how it operated. He said he enjoyed being one of the first faces people saw when they arrived on campus.

“It was rewarding to welcome people to campus, answer their questions and help them feel comfortable,” Addis said. “I always wanted to represent Maryville College positively and be a role model for students.”

Addis was set to graduate in 1998, but he left school to start working full time. Twenty-one years later, he noticed he had only a few credits left toward his degree, so he decided to return to the classroom. In May 2019, he walked across the stage at commencement and received a degree in political science.

Addis had an interest in MC athletics from the beginning, and it was one of the reasons he chose to attend. This summer, after 27 years in security, Addis moved to the athletics department, working as the operations and game management assistant.

“This new role has allowed me to continue doing what I have always enjoyed: being involved with the College, supporting students and athletes and helping create a positive experience for everyone who comes to campus,” Addis said. 

Addis’s decision to come to MC as a student grew into something more. Over the years, students and faculty have had the privilege of calling Addis a classmate, a coworker and a friend.

“Maryville became a place where I found lifelong friendships, discovered new passions, developed professionally and found a community that I truly cared about,” Addis said. “I hope that the students who come through Maryville College today will find the same sense of belonging, opportunity and connection that I found when I first arrived.”