Meet the Team

Alayna Hayes, EdD, Assistant Provost and Senior Director of the Career Center

• Bachelor of Science in Management, Florida A&M University
• Master of Business Administration, Florida A&M University
• Doctor of Education in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Johns Hopkins University

Allison Otto, Assistant Director of Badging & Skills

• Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
• Master of Science in Educational Leadership & Policy, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

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Anna Flagg, Associate Director, Employer Relations

• Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management and Business Journalism, Baylor University
• Master of Education in Higher Education Administration, Vanderbilt University

Bri Jimenez, Employer Relations Specialist

STEM, Entrepreneurship, Arts & Media – Schedule an appointment in Calendly

B. Antonella Valdivia, Assistant Director of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Initiatives

• Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, University of Miami
• Master of Education in Higher Education Administration, Vanderbilt University

Bethany Reilly, Career Coach

Education and Social Sciences

• Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management, Belmont University
• Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership, Mercer University

Cathy Weisbrodt, Director of Student Engagement

• Bachelor of Business Administration & Marketing, Eastern Michigan University
• Master of Liberal Arts & Science, Vanderbilt University

Christina Keeton, PhD, Associate Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholar Coaching and Engagement

• Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, Syracuse University
• Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University

Destiny Rumble, Assistant Director of Immersive Experiences & Treks

• Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication & Public Relations, University of North Alabama

Elizabeth Harrington Lambert, PhD, Associate Director, Fellowships

• Bachelor of Arts in History and Art, Agnes Scott College
• Master of Arts in History, Indiana University
• Fulbright Scholar, Bauhaus Universität Weimar (Germany)
• DAAD Scholar, Freie Universität Berlin (Germany)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Modern European History, Indiana University

Erica M. Betz, Director of External Partner Engagement

• Bachelor of Arts in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication, University of Central Florida
• Master of Arts in Communication, University of Central Florida
• Certifications:  Certified Career Services Professional (CCSP) through National Career Development Association (NCDA)

Ethan Fesperman, Associate Director of Undergraduate Coaching and Engagement

• Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, Warren Wilson College
• Master of Arts in Education, The George Washington University

Grace Janoski, Director of Center Innovation

• Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communication, Middle Tennessee State University
• Master of Education in Organizational Leadership, Belmont University
• Master of Arts in Human Resources Management, Claremont Lincoln University

Jacob Chabowski, Marketing & Communication Specialist

• Bachelor of Science in Marketing, John Carroll University

James Hoon, Career Coach

Vandy in Exploration

• Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing, Susquehanna University
• Master of Education – Higher Education/Higher Education Administration, Vanderbilt University

Jessica Abner, PhD, Senior Career Coach

Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars

• Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Microbiology, University of Central Florida
• Master of Science in Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
• Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University

Katie Carnes, Employer Relations Specialist

Finance – Schedule an appointment in Calendly

• Bachelor of Arts in Communication, The University of Alabama

Lindsey Carroll, Administrative Coordinator for External Partner Engagement

Mariah Strike, Director of Operations and Strategy

Paresh Patel, Career Coach

Vandy in STEM + Entrepreneurship

• Bachelor of Science in Management, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Master of Science in Human Resource Management, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Penny Baga, Assistant Director of Employer Relations

Entertainment, Government or Legal – Schedule an appointment in Calendly

• Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, College of Charleston

Whitney B. Taylor, PhD, Senior Career Coach

Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows in Humanities and Arts 

• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and English, Emory University
• Doctor of Philosophy in English Literature, Northwestern University

Yasja Hemmings, Career Coach

Vandy in Arts & Media 

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of South Florida
• Master of Education in Higher Education with an emphasis in Student Affairs, Iowa State University