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 served as a Marine Corps officer for just under seven years. After completing my initial training in Quantico, Virginia, I became a logistics officer and spent the majority of my career at Camp Pendleton, California, including a rotation to the Indo-Pacific. I finished my final two and a half years at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, where I helped transform civilians into United States Marines.
Of everything the Marine Corps gave me, I value most the lifelong friendships I built and the confidence to work through and solve difficult problems, regardless of the circumstances. The Marine Corps has a unique way of placing you in situations where you must lead teams through uncertainty and ambiguity, often with limited information and resources. Those experiences taught me to remain calm, trust my team, make decisions, and find a way forward.
What are your thoughts on mentoring other students while at Vanderbilt? As a role model, what values do you want to share?
I believe mentoring other students is one of the most valuable things we can do as veterans and leaders on campus. There can be a disconnect between the civilian population and what people believe a military member or veteran is actually like. By creating opportunities for interaction and mentorship, we can help bridge that gap while also sharing perspectives gained through our experiences.
As a mentor, I hope to emphasize humility, accountability, resilience, and a willingness to serve others. I also want students to know that leadership does not always mean having the answer. Often, it means listening, asking the right questions, taking responsibility, and helping the people around you succeed.
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 returned to school to earn my MBA with a focus on healthcare and operations. The healthcare system is constantly evolving and faces complex challenges involving cost, access, technology, workforce constraints, and the patient experience. That complexity is one of the things that draws me to the industry.
At Vanderbilt, I want to develop the business and operational skills necessary to understand those challenges and help solve them. Ultimately, I hope to build a career in healthcare leadership where I can improve how organizations operate and, in doing so, improve the experience for both patients and the providers who care for them.
What would you tell other veterans about the Bass Military Scholars Program?
The Bass Military Scholars Program is truly one of a kind. One of its greatest strengths is the opportunity to interact with and mentor both undergraduate and graduate students across Vanderbilt. It gives veterans a chance to continue serving and leading while also becoming part of the broader university community.
Just as important is the network of current and former Bass Scholars who are genuinely invested in one another鈥檚 success. Whether it is navigating graduate school, transitioning from the military, or building a professional network for life after Vanderbilt, you become part of a community of veterans who are always willing to help. That combination of service, mentorship, and community is what makes the program so special.