“Changes in visa program could deprive Knoxville of valuable talent”
MSN Syndicate from Opinion Piece Knoxville News Sentinel
My parents immigrated from Cyprus in 1968. My late father, Professor Emeritus Solon Georghiou of the University of Tennessee, Department of Physics, was invited to the U.S. on such a visa to advance science — and that he did. All I understood growing up was that he studied and researched DNA. His contribution to the University of Tennessee — through education and the shaping of new scientific minds — was immense, highly regarded, and deeply valued.
When I was 13 years old, my father invited a physicist from India, who brought his family to the U.S. They also entered through this program for work with the University of Tennessee. They settled here, and he too contributed significantly to scientific research.
Our country is made of immigrants at some point in time. This is worldwide talent acquisition. We need immigrants. I wrote this opinion piece for my local paper, the Knoxville News Sentinel, as I observe increased tension toward immigrants and these visas. They aren’t taking our jobs — they are enhancing our lives through highly skilled roles.
Thank you for taking the time to read, reflect, and have civil conversations that can create change in your environment today. We don’t need to merely tolerate one another; we need to listen, show respect, and value our differences. Everyone brings something important to the table.
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