AVBA Member Spotlight

Chris Nickson, BS'08

Where is your hometown and where do you currently reside? 

I am originally from Brundidge, Alabama and currently reside in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Tell us about your professional interests. What area/field do you work in? What aspects of the Vanderbilt experience and community impacted your growth from Vanderbilt alumni to where you are now professionally?

I am a professional therapist with special interests in promoting athlete mental health. As a former student-athlete at Vanderbilt, I encountered several experiences that prepared me for my professional path and interests. Most experiences involved learning the nature of people, their sense of agency and personal power, as well as their desires for connectedness and continual evolvement. Thus, Vanderbilt introduced me to the significance in understanding the impact of a shared culture and what this means in the everyday lives of people. Today, I seek to be a facilitator of individual lives through collective regard and impact.

As a new member of the executive board for AVBA, what do you hope to gain from your involvement with AVBA? How do you see AVBA contributing to your personal and professional goals?

I would like to work to strengthen the dynamic between alumni and current students in a process of giving. I truly believe that both populations greatly need the support of each other. By doing so, I desire to play a part in facilitating powerful and engaging experiences that assist current students and alums in connecting, sharing in, and growing together. In this way, I plan to continue to pursue opportunities for continual personal and professional growth by leading and modeling the mission and expectations of AVBA while assisting in helping maintain collectivity among current and former students.

In what ways would you like to contribute to the growth of the AVBA community?

Ultimately, I would like to contribute to increasing access and support for current students and be a resource for the AVBA community. I also desire to be instrumental in bringing alums together and strengthening our collective regard as a unit. Through awareness of each other's backgrounds, processes, and aspirations, I am confident that we can produce an atmosphere of engagement and support for Vanderbilt students and alums throughout the AVBA community. I aspire to play an integral role in this process.

Chiedza Chauruka, BE'18

What are your Professional or Business Interests? What are you doing now?

I am interested in the design and development of medical devices from conception to commercialization. I currently work as a design and development engineer for Abbott in the Cardiovascular field.

How can the AVBA community and its professional network be of assistance in achieving your professional or personal goals?

The AVBA community can assist me in my role as Athletics Director by mentoring our student athletes and by continuing to provide support and encouragement for our efforts in this role.

As a young alum, what do you hope to gain from your involvement with AVBA? How do you see AVBA contributing to your personal and professional goals?

From a personal perspective, serving on the AVBA Board is a great opportunity to give back to the Vanderbilt community which supported me during my undergraduate study. From a professional perspective, serving on the AVBA Board as a Programming co-chair will give me an opportunity to extend myself as I plan events, reach out and connect with unfamiliar individuals, and strategize on how to successfully get the AVBA community engaged and connected, which are important skills that are translatable in the professional world.

In what ways would you like to contribute to the growth of the AVBA community?

I would like to contribute to building awareness of AVBA activities and to help build community among the alums and current students.

Johannah Valentin, BA'22

What year are you now? What campus involvement do you have now?

I am a graduating senior majoring in Spanish and African American and Diaspora Studies. I am the outgoing President of the Black Student Association (BSA) and the outgoing Vice President of the American Sign Language Club. I also peer mentored 10 first years, who were Public Relations Chairs for their Commons House throughout the year.

What are your Professional or Business Interests? 

I am interested in the dentistry field. Ideally, in the future, I would have my own practice and/or non-profit clinic that would serve minority communities including immigrants and refugees. I have found that many non-English speakers struggle in health settings due to the medical jargon, but also since they have to have a third party translate. I plan to have dentists, hygienists, and assistants that speak other languages-like American Sign Language, Arabic, Spanish, etc. so that these communities can feel more comfortable advocating for themselves in the dental office, as well as creating a clear road of communication with patients.

How can the AVBA community and its professional network be of assistance in achieving your professional and personal goals?

If there are any dentists in the AVBA community that could mentor me, or just give me advice for applications, dental school, etc, that would be wonderful. I would love to have a larger network of Black dentists that I can connect with!

In what ways would you like to contribute to the growth of the AVBA community?

I would love to contribute to the community by volunteering at events near me, or even helping plan events! I have some great experience from the BSA in my 4 years at Vanderbilt.

Anything else you would like to share about yourself  or your experiences at Vanderbilt? 

I am planning on taking a gap year (or two), and would love to get to know members in whichever city I decide to live during that time. Another fun fact is that I am working to be a polyglot, so if there is anyone who loves teaching languages, please don't hesitate to reach out! I am currently learning Portuguese, Haitian Kreyòl, and ASL.

Candice S. Lee, BS'00, MEd'02, EdD'12

Where are you located now? Nashville, TN

What are your Professional or Business Interests? What are you doing now?

Athletics Director - Vanderbilt University

How can the AVBA community and its professional network be of assistance in achieving your professional or personal goals?

The AVBA community can assist me in my role as Athletics Director by mentoring our student athletes and by continuing to provide support and encouragement for our efforts in this role.

In what ways would you like to contribute to the growth of the AVBA community?

I welcome the opportunity to continue the AVBA partnership initiatives that were started by David Williams during his administration. I would also like to provide exposure and networking opportunities to AVBA members that are interested in careers in college athletics and administration.

Any advice for parents and athletes in light of the new NIL & Transfer Portal rules?

Athletes and their parents should focus the finding the best overall experience for their academic and athletic careers. By all means, attend the institution that nurtures all parts of your being as a student, athlete and young person.

Any advice for AVBA members seeking a career in sports administration?

Generally, the starting point for a career in athletics is developing relationships within the industry due to small size of the overall industry. Specifically, the best way to build relationships is to volunteer and offer to shadow the position that you are interested in holding. Finally, explore the availability of graduate fellowships that are also good starting points for a career in college athletics.

Derrick Gragg, BS'92

Where are you located now? Evanston, IL

What are your Professional or Business Interests? What are you doing now?

Athletics Director - Northwestern University

How can the AVBA community and its professional network be of assistance in achieving your professional or personal goals?

The AVBA community can assist me in expanding into professional speaking by providing networking opportunities to speak to audiences on leadership, personal development and motivation. The community can help me identify a literary agent for my forthcoming book and support and share my first book.

In what ways would you like to contribute to the growth of the AVBA community?

I welcome the opportunity to mentor students and AVBA members that are interested in careers in college athletics and administration.

Any advice for parents and athletes in light of the new NIL & Transfer Portal rules?

• Be cautious regarding all NIL agreements and have the agreements reviewed by legal counsel before signing to protect eligibility.
• Remember the student athlete's recipe for success is matriculate, educate & graduate.
• Be sure that there is a landing spot for the student athlete before entering the Transfer Portal.

Any advice for AVBA members seeking a career in sports administration?

First, remember that varsity athletics in Higher Education is a business. Thus, it is necessary to have solid educational background preferably with a Masters in Sports Administration, MBA, J.D. or Doctorate. Second, volunteer to serve in a college athletics department to gain exposure and experience that you can use to gain a full time position. Third, be specific about your career goals to ensure that you secure the type of position that you actually want. Finally, once you have secured a position, learn the external side of the business which includes marketing and fundraising.

Haley Bishop
Class of 2024, College of Arts and Science

What year are you now? What campus involvement do you have now? Feel free to include your involvement with athletics and how this has impacted your campus experience.I am a sophomore here at Vanderbilt. I can't believe that the spring semester is almost over. Time flies! I am a member of the Women's Track and Field team and I also participate in the Black Student-Athlete Group (BSAG) and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). I would like to be even more involved with campus especially when it comes to just being a student, however, being a student-athlete has given me an invaluable experience. Not only do I get to see Vanderbilt from the experience of a Black athlete, but because of the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center (BCC), I also get to spend my time being a student which is pretty different from my day to day lifestyle. I try to be as involved as I can, and the events that the BCC holds allow me to spend time doing that. The BCC also introduced me to some of my lifelong friends, which I will forever be grateful for!

For as long as I can remember I've always wanted to attend law school. I love helping people and this seemed like a really good route. My major here is communications. This being said, I could also see myself working on a marketing team somewhere in the future. My true professional/business interest lies in helping people, which is where my non-profit We Set the Pace comes in. We Set the Pace was founded in 2018, and we encourage youth to use their passion, find their purpose, and use the knowledge to prepare themselves for the future. I'm not sure where my future will take me, however, I am certain wherever I go, I want to continue to help better the communities around me.

How can the AVBA community and its professional network be of assistance in achieving your professional or personal goals?

I've learned that some of the best ways to learn are by simply having conversations with people who have been in your shoes before. This is something that, unfortunately, I have not taken advantage of quite as much as I should be. Something that would really assist me is talking to people who have been in my shoes and shadowing people who are in jobs that I've considered for my own professional career. Something else that would be helpful is spreading the word about We Set The Pace. We have some amazing projects coming up that I believe will be beneficial to so many!

In what ways would you like to contribute to the growth of the AVBA community?

Firstly, graduate! I would love to help facilitate more conversations between AVBA, BSA, and BSAG. I feel what Black undergraduates need at times is just talking to people who have been in our shoes. It would not only help encourage us when the going gets rough, but also inspire us to keep reaching for those goals and aspirations because they're within our reach!

Dorothy J. Wingfield Phillips, Ph.D., BA'67

Where are you located now? Natick, MA (about 20 miles west of Boston)

What are your Professional or Business Interests? What are you doing now?

In 2013 I retired from Waters Corporation as Director, Strategic Marketing. I am currently involved in scientific associations, sorority, and church as well as with my family.

American Chemical Society (ACS), a 50-year member

An elected and rewarding role for me is serving the Society as Director-at-Large on its Board of Directors since 2014, including being a member of the Board's Executive Committee for seven of these years. I am the first African American woman to serve on the ACS Board. As a Board member I promote and support the Core Values of ACS including the one for Safety and another for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Respect, DEIR. I also interact with other scientific associations such as National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) of which I am a member.

Shortly after joining the Board, I became its representative to the AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition. After eight years of working with the Coalition, I have gained an appreciation for the right of everybody to the advancements of science and more. I have contributed a chapter to a book and written comments on Science and Human Rights. My involvement with ACS also includes being a member of the local Northeastern Section where I serve on its Board of Trustees. Through the local section I stay connected to academic and industrial scientists in eastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In general, I am staying connected to my discipline even though I am retired.

Personal reasons for these activities: I have an opportunity to share my love of science and encourage students to consider one of the STEM (Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics) fields as a career. In addition, I enjoy being a mentor and role model for students as well as young professionals especially those underrepresented in these fields.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., a 57-year member

I was Initiated in Alpha Psi Chapter in 1964. While living in Midland, MI and working for Dow Chemical Company I became a Charter member of Mu Alpha Omega Chapter. Since 1984 I have been a member and former Chaplain of Psi Omega Chapter in Boston, MA. As an AKA I value the sisterhood and opportunity to connect and serve with mostly professional African American women. They are an important part of my network within the community of people of color. A key reason is serving in the neighborhoods or "service to all mankind." A real joy is sharing the sisterhood with my daughters, Crystal Mayo, and Vickie Thomas, who are 25- and 35-year members, respectfully.

Active Member of a United Methodist Church (1984-current) and its Conference

Lay Leader of Fisk memorial United Methodist Church, member of the Board of United Methodist Foundation of New England and the New England Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. My dedication to Fisk and the Conference is because I want to grow spiritually and inspire others as I walk in faith. Two scriptures that give me inspiration and hope are Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 4:13.

Family Life

My husband James died in June 2018; we were married 50 plus years. We have three children and nine grandchildren. I strive to inspire and dream with my grandchildren while continuously loving and praying for them. My daughter, Crystal and her family, teenagers Logan and Elizabeth, live with me.

How can the AVBA community and its professional network be of assistance in achieving your professional or personal goals?

Unbelievably, I still have personal and professional goals. My professional goal is not to advance in my field but to stay aware and up to date and make contributions through mentoring and service in organizations.

The AVBA members and Vanderbilt faculty of color are a part of my network. An example is working with Dr. André Churchwell, vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer for Vanderbilt, to identify a facilitator for an ACS DEIR workshop. Dr. Renã Robinson, the Dorothy J. Wingfield Phillips Chancellor's Faculty Fellow in the Department of Chemistry and the 2021-23 President of NOBCChE, represented the organization on the ACS DEIR Advisory Board. I connect with AVBA members in my discipline through ACS, NOBCChE and AAAS.

AVBA community and professional network can be helpful in my search for symposia speakers and nominees for ACS and other scientific organizations' awards. It has been observed that people of color and all women must nominate others in their communities to increase the number of awards to these groups.

A personal goal that AVBA could potentially assist me with is giving back to current Vanderbilt or other university (HBCU's, for example) students of color or members of underrepresented groups. I would be glad to share my story with others on their journeys to a career in STEM fields or other disciplines.

In what ways would you like to contribute to the growth of the AVBA community?

I seek your input on how I can contribute to the growth of the AVBA community. I will continue to support its scholarship program. In general, I encourage the growth of the AVBA to include the majority of Vanderbilt graduate that fall within this demographic. The AVBA could serve as the needed link to or a home at Vanderbilt after graduation. The AVBA virtual programs during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 gave me a chance to feel more connected to the group than previously. I would enjoy participating in virtual discussions or brainstorming sessions on the topic of growing the community. One thought is that AVBA work with the chapters of Vanderbilt Alumni Association as they plan outings and events to increase its members attendance. Another idea is to explore, if not already doing so, AVBA building a relationship with undergraduates to enhance their interest after graduation.

What insight or wisdom can you share with our community based on your unique role as a Vanderbilt pioneer?

I would like to share with you the opening and closing of my plenary lecture given virtually at the ACS Fall National Meeting, August 22, 2021, "The Resilience of an Industrial Chemist: A Career with Opportunities and Obstacles."

My journey begins with my childhood in the segregated U.S. South with its considerable obstacles and challenges and culminates in my professional achievements as an accomplished business, and scientific society leader and mentor.

Recall with me your days of playing outside as a child. One game (played with my siblings) was just sitting on the dirt, digging, and digging to reach China. In the innocence of our youthful minds, we honestly believed we could dig our way to China!

In closing, this little brown girl did dig to China and many other international places, not one shovel of dirt at a time but by one step at a time through education, a successful industrial career and even as a member of ACS Board of Directors when I represented ACS in Saudi Arabia in 2019.

This little brown girl from the south growing up during the civil rights era rose from the ground to cross the stage at Vanderbilt for her BA, to march at UC for her PhD and to sit at the tables with senior leaders of Waters Corporation and of ACS.

You too can rise to succeed, use your talent, skills, and tools, pursue the field where your passion lies, and Persevere with the support of your village. You can stay the course or change directions as led by mentors and your Faith and the belief that all things are possible through His grace. Resilience. Perseverance. Community. Family. Faith.

Dr. Charleson Bell, BE'07
Research professor in biomedical engineering at Vanderbilt University

Where are you located now?  Nashville, TN

What are your professional or business interests? What are you doing now?

Interests:  innovation processes, entrepreneurship, biomedical innovation, creating a biomedical innovation continuum (and other innovation continuums in other industries), nanotechnology, machine and deep learning, sustainability innovation, climate resilience, human/planet-centered design thinking, blockchain, VR/AR, investing

Current Roles at Vanderbilt:

• Research Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
• Director of Biomedical Innovation, Biodesign, and I-Corps
• The Wond'ry | Vanderbilt Center for Innovation and Design
• Course Director, Innovation Activism and Altruism
• Associate Director of Engineering
• Medical Innovators Development Program (MiDP), Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Roles in Entrepreneurship: 

• Co-Founder and President, BioNanovations, Inc.
• Co-Founder and President, Crystal Innovations, Inc.
• Co-Founder, Innovation Consultant - Stroll, Inc.

How can the AVBA community and its professional network be of assistance in achieving your professional or personal goals?

Mentorship to me and my students/faculty/staff.. Connections to startup or scaled corporations in the biomedical or high technology space, venture firms, potential strategic partners

In what ways would you like to contribute to the growth of the AVBA community?

My role at the Wond'ry seeks to empower and train students, faculty, staff, and alumni to create positive change through innovation and to also launch scalable ventures.  Inclusive innovation. STEM pipeline.  All of these may enhance the growth of the AVBA community in number and in achievement and success. Connecting alumni back to Vanderbilt.

Taylor Grant
Class of 2021, College of Arts and Science

What year are you now? What campus involvement do you have now?

I am a senior! My current campus involvement includes Black Cultural Center Ambassa'Dore, Vanderbilt Tour Guide, Chair of the Vanderbilt Programming Board Music Group, President of the Digital Media Club, and Secretary of the Eta Beta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

What are your professional or business interests?

I am headed to law school next fall! I have a broad interest in corporate contract law, and would eventually like to break into sports and entertainment law.

How can the AVBA community and its professional network be of assistance in achieving your professional or personal goals?

During my time at Vanderbilt, I have benefited greatly from the outstanding mentors and role models this community has given me. As I transition to alumna status in the spring, I believe the best way the AVBA professional network can continue to be of assistance to me is by remaining available for me to reach out for both personal and professional advice.

In what ways would you like to contribute to the growth of the AVBA community?

I would like to contribute to the growth of the AVBA community by volunteering my time whenever possible, as AVBA's engagement with current students has truly embodied the meaning of "Lift As You Climb."

Brandon Scott
Class of 2023, College of Arts and Science and Peabody

What year are you now? What campus involvement do you have now?

I'm a junior this year, entering my second semester. I'm currently serving as the Vice President of the BSA, the Political Activism Chair of the NAACP, a Black Cultural Center Ambassa'DORE, and a member of VPB Music Group.

What are your professional or business interests?

My professional interests lie in the marketing field. My top industries to work in right now are technology and entertainment. This summer, I'll be working with Microsoft as a marketing intern. I'm also planning to work as a marketing intern for my Spring Capstone Project.

How can the AVBA community and its professional network be of assistance in achieving your professional or personal goals?

I think providing opportunities for networking and coaching (especially on how to break into the field and navigate the first few years) would be the best help for my professional development. Also, just being a shoulder to lean on to make this a more connected community is something I would look forward to.

In what ways would you like to contribute to the growth of the AVBA community?

I would like to contribute to the growth of the AVBA community by fostering more of a connection between the alumni and the current students on campus. I think that organizing events by partnering with campus organizations could be a great start. The accessibility of virtual programming and the integration of virtual-enabled services on campus is something I've thought about utilizing in the future.