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

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

Master of Education – Higher Education/Higher Education Administration,

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,

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

Karen Chan, Employer Relations Specialist

Business and Consulting – Schedule an appointment in Calendly

Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Broadcasting, Mississippi State 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

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Vanderbilt University

Mark Okafor,
Assistant Director of Technology and Data

Bachelor of Engineering in Agricultural & Bioresource Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Master of Science in Environmental Science, Tennessee State University
Master of Science in Computer Science, Tennessee State University

Madeline Tallo, J.D., Pre-Law Career Coach

Vandy in Public Sector

Bachelor of Arts in History, Political Science, and African and African American Studies, University of Arkansas
Juris Doctor, New England Law | Boston

Mariah Strike, Director of Operations and Strategy

Bachelor of Arts in International Studies/Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, University of Wyoming
Master of Education in Learning, Diversity, and Urban Studies, Vanderbilt University

Nicole O’Block, Office Manager

Bachelor of Science in International Agriculture, Pennsylvania State University

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

Student Workers

Bella Guzman, Student Ambassador

Vandy in Arts & Media, Marketing Intern

Human & Organizational Development, Sociology

Karim Elmehdawi, Student Ambassador

Vandy in Business & Consulting

Economics
Minors in Business and Data Science

Anna Chen, Student Ambassador

Vandy in Education

Elementary Education & Second Language Studies

Trinity Williams, Student Ambassador