Tell us about your military service. What did you do? Where did you serve? What do you value the most about your military service?
I was an Army Infantry Officer stationed at Fort Campbell, KY and Fort Bliss, TX with one combat deployment to Afghanistan. I held various leadership and staff roles over my eight-year career, ending my active service commanding a headquarters company and an armored tank company. The leadership experience and mentorship I received throughout my time in service is responsible for who I am today, and I cherish the opportunity to give back to others what my leaders gave to me.
What are your thoughts on mentoring other students while at Vanderbilt? As a role model, what values do you want to share?
The opportunity to mentor other students and pass on the lessons I have learned is something that gives me great purpose. Having been the beneficiary of outstanding mentorship, I understand the power an Engaged, Passionate, and Authentic leader can have on the course of someone’s life. I hope to share the values of discipline, mission-focus, and perseverance while helping others achieve their goals as my mentors have helped me to achieve mine.
While at Vanderbilt, what will be the focus of your studies and how do you plan to use this knowledge in your future career?
I am pursuing an MBA with a focus on Finance and Strategy. My goal is to begin a career as a Management Consultant where I will pair the business knowledge I learn at Owen with the problem solving, teamwork, and leadership skills developed during my military career.
What would you tell other veterans about the Bass Military Scholars Program?
Vanderbilt values and actively seeks the experience unique to those who served our country, as evidenced by this scholarship, additional veteran benefits, and the personal outreach they provide to all service members.