Meet the Staff

Nora Spencer, Director

In July 2009, Nora Spencer was appointed as director of the Women’s Center, expanding her responsibilities which also include serving as the first director for the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Life. Prior to coming to Vanderbilt, Nora was the Assistant Director for Multicultural and Diversity Affairs and the Director of LGBT Affairs at the University of Florida, where she held other administrative duties as part of the Dean of Students staff.  Nora has also served as the Director of Education and Training for Planned Parenthood of Nebraska-Council Bluffs.  A long-time community educator and advocate, Nora has volunteered in a variety of capacities, including a sexual assault victims’ advocate, a Spanish interpreter, and a board member for several community agencies. Nora holds a B.A. in English from Creighton University and an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Florida. In addition to her work in topics of women, gender, sexuality, and feminism, Nora has taught literature, creative writing, rhetoric, composition, queer theory, cultural criticism, and English as a Second Language.

To contact Nora, email: nora.spencer@vanderbilt.edu

Kayce Matthews, Associate Director

Kayce Matthews is thrilled to be joining the Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center as the Associate Director. She joins Vanderbilt after three years as the Director of Education & Training for Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee. Prior to her director position, Kayce spent three years as the coordinator of the PG-13 Players, dedicating her time to a peer education theatre troupe that focuses on empowering youth to educate their peers around issues of sexuality and sexual health. In addition to her role as a sexuality educator and trainer, Kayce has served as an advocate for victim/survivors of domestic and sexual violence with the AmeriCorps Victim Assistance program in Nashua, NH, and completed her practicum with the Domestic Violence Unit of the Metro Nashville Police Department. On a personal note, Kayce is the proud mother of Logan, her two year old son. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, theatre, reading, and running. Kayce holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Trevecca University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Stephens College.

To contact Kayce, email: kayce.matthews@vanderbilt.edu

Kayti Protos, Program Coordinator

Kayti Protos, our program coordinator for Project Safe, joins the Women’s Center most recently from Canton, NY, where she was the director of the Advocates Program at St. Lawrence University, a grant-based program dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual violence and to promoting prevention and intervention-based programming. Kayti has held a variety of positions in community and theater groups, including Lovie’s Legacy, the Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee, the Post Depression Theatre, and various student organizations while at Vanderbilt as an undergraduate. An alumnus, she received her B.A. in Communication Studies and Women’s & Gender Studies. Kayti is excited to return to Vanderbilt and looks forward to this opportunity to contribute to the Vanderbilt community.

To email Kayti, email kayti.protos@vanderbilt.edu

Katie Garcia, Program Coordinator

Katie Garcia joins us from Saint Louis, Missouri, where she completed her Master’s in Social Work at Washington University’s Brown School of Social Work and Public Health. Pursuing a concentration in Social Justice, Katie committed her two years at the Brown School to engaging directly with the community in Saint Louis and at Washington University.  She served on the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Task Force at the Diversity Awareness Partnership, a non-profit in St. Louis dedicated to addressing the issues of racism, ableism, sexism and homophobia.  While there, she co-wrote curriculum for diversity trainings in community organizations, K-12 school groups as well as corporations. Her practicum experience as the Coordinator of LGBT Student Involvement and Leadership at Washington University has given her the opportunity to focus on student programming.  A long-time reproductive health advocate, she worked for Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region as a Health Center Coordinator.  Her commitment to feminism and student activism was developed and fostered through the critical experiences she had as an undergraduate student at Skidmore in Women’s Studies and Archaeology; Katie is excited to be joining the Vanderbilt team to cultivate this passion and commitment in others.

To email Katie, email katie.garcia@vanderbilt.edu

Terrie Barrow, Administrative Assistant

Terrie Barrow, our administrative assistant, comes to the Women’s Center from the Dean of Students Office at Vanderbilt, where she was the receptionist. She has had many fascinating careers, including professional ballroom dance teacher, process technician at a chemical plant, and a professional baker and cook. Terrie is most proud of being a stay-at-home mom for ten years to her two sons, Ethan, 14, and Noah,12. She is also an active member and volunteer for Gilda’s Club Nashville. Terrie enjoys being at home with her husband Richard, kids, cats, and chickens; she and her family are interested in urban farming and living sustainably.

To contact Terrie, email: theresa.o.barrow@vanderbilt.edu

Natalee Erb, Graduate Assistant

Natalee Erb joins the Women’s Center most recently from Sewanee, TN, where she recently completed her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from The University of the South.  Currently pursuing her Master’s in Higher Education Administration at Peabody, she has worked in several different areas of student affairs.  During her undergraduate career, Natalee worked in residential life, serving as both a resident advisor and residence hall director before becoming the student director of first year programs and planning new student orientation.  She has also worked in admissions, on family weekend committee and with student leadership development.  New to the Vanderbilt community, Natalee is looking forward to applying her background in Anthropology to better serve the Women’s Center, learning and growing alongside fellow students and staff, and to enriching the community to the best of her ability.

To contact Natalee, email: natalee.m.erb@vanderbilt.edu

Kyndall Clark, Undergraduate Intern

Kyndall Clark is a rising junior in the HOD department at Peabody College. Although her interest in feminist issues began in her freshman writing class, her passion for women’s empowerment blossomed during her first year at Vanderbilt as a transfer student. As a sophomore, she started a natural hair group on campus called STRANDS (Students Transitioning, Relaxed And Naturals Developing Self- awareness) and worked on Sister Circle, an educational field project by Divinity graduate and servicewoman Dianna Watkins. Recognizing that both groups focused on women of color, Kyndall created VUEES (Vanderbilt University Empowering and Encouraging Sisterhood) to stimulate discussion and communion amongst all women on campus, regardless of color, age, religious association, sexual orientation and the like. Her ultimate goal is to become a professor in Women and Gender Studies while also working in non- profits that focus on gender issues. She looks forward to working with the Women’s Center and learning more about the impact women have on the world, and vice versa. In her personal life, Kyndall enjoys learning new hobbies such as rock wall climbing and tennis.

Jennifer Quan, Undergraduate Intern

Jennifer Quan is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, double majoring in Communication Studies and English and minoring in Sociology.  Since her freshman year, she has been actively involved with different campus organizations such as Chancellor’s Scholars, Dance Marathon, and Alpha Phi Omega, working with peers as well as university staff to coordinate philanthropic events and functions. She has worked on public relations, recruitment, and fundraising.  Jennifer is also the author of two debate textbooks for junior high and high school students and has developed programs and summer camps to teach students debate and speech in different states including Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana.  As a Women’s Center intern, Jennifer is excited for the opportunity to make Green Dots more visible, vital, and relevant on campus.  She has a passion for raising awareness about power-based violence and removing the stigma that often surrounds the issue.  She plans on using her planning, organizational, and communication skills to generate interest and awareness of the program  through publicity and events that will help further the mission and goals of Green Dots and the Women’s Center.