Tell us about your military service. What did you do? Where did you serve? What do you value the most about your military service?
After graduating from Vanderbilt University in 2013, I served 7 years as an Army Field Artilleryman, stationed in Fort Sill, OK and Republic of Korea. I then took an unusual career path, still serving as a Field Artilleryman and Combat Advisor within the Security Force Assistance Brigade, serving in Fort Bragg, NC, and Iraq. My military service allowed me the opportunity to meet people, forge connections, and cultivate experiences that would have never been possible under any other circumstances.
What are your thoughts on mentoring other students while at Vanderbilt? As a role model, what values do you want to share?
I am excited at the opportunity to share hard-learned lessons in resiliency, leadership, and teamwork garnered from both extremely knowledgeable professional mentors and personal experience. Within the Army, mentorship and professional development are not only recommended, but required. Setting healthy habits for self-reflection and improvement, gathered from multiple perspectives is a key factor in effective leadership. I hope to continue in the footsteps of my personal mentors and serve as both a resource and mentor for my classmates and the Vanderbilt Community.
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 concentration in consulting. I hope to use my background as a Combat Advisor and unique perspective on leadership to help companies and employees grow their businesses and manage change.
What would you tell other veterans about the Bass Military Scholars Program?
Each scholar brings a unique and enlightening perspective on both the benefits of military service and life afterwards within the civilian world. It is an incredible (albeit slightly daunting!) environment–surrounded with such talented Scholars oriented around the common mission of serving as mentors and role models within the Vanderbilt Community.