The mission of the Ingram Center for Student-Athlete Success is to provide unmatched postgrad preparation by equipping student-athletes with resources to maximize
This initiative was made possible by longtime supporter and Vanderbilt Board of Trust member John R. Ingram, MBA’86, and is an invaluable resource for our student-athletes as they pursue their personal and professional goals.
Scan to watch a video about the Ingram Center
Alison Wenzel Associate Athletic Director Director of the Ingram Center
Ricky Thrash Associate Athletic Director Strategic Initiatives
Sara Sanders Assistant Athletic Director Enrollment and Transitions
Nate
Assistant Athletic Director Student Services
Brandon
Assistant Athletic Director Student-Athlete Development
Floyd
Bell
Morgan Jackson Student Services Coordinator
Katie Myers Operations Manager
Demetrius Miller Student Services Coordinator
Anna Brock Hawkins Student Services Coordinator
Molly Pannell Director of Educational Enhancement
Katelen Watkins Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development
Taylor McFall Assistant Director of Student Services
Jenna Beverly Director of Student Services
Brittni LaGeorge Director of Student Services
Laura McCann Assistant Director of Enrollment and Transitions
Simone McCarter Assistant Director of Educational Enhancement, Tutoring
Sarah Gibbons Assistant Director of Student Services
Max-Maurice Martin Assistant Director of Student Services
Guiding new student-athletes through the enrollment process and welcoming them through transition programming
Who were our new student-athletes this year?
Where are the incoming student-athletes from?
Australia
Canada
Germany
Ghana
Russia
United Kingdom
United States
OUR ENROLLMENT ENTRY POINTS AND STUDENT TYPES
International student-athlete
Aga Makurat (Poland)
Women’s Basketball
Sophomore
Major: Human and Organizational Development
Midyear undergrad transfer/ international Vivian Akyirem (Ghana)
Women’s Soccer
Junior
Major: Human and Organizational Development
Graduate transfer
Aeneas DiCosmo
Football
Owen School: Finance
Peabody College: Learning, Diversity and Urban Studies
Undergraduate transfer
Jacob Humphrey
Baseball
Senior Major: Medicine, Health and Society
Programming and Partnerships
MIDYEAR PROGRAMMING
Ingram Center Midyear Bridge
The Ingram Center and Athletics staff assisted 25 new freshmen, undergraduate transfer and graduate transfer student-athletes during a full day of onboarding and transition programming.
Vanderbilt Visions
In partnership with Residential Colleges, our nine freshmen were a part of the inaugural spring Vanderbilt Visions group on campus, engaging with Dean of Residential Colleges and Residential Education Melissa Gresalfi.
SUMMER PROGRAMMING
Ingram Center Summer Bridge
All new freshmen and undergraduate transfer student-athletes who arrive to campus in the summer participate in a seven-week bridge program designed to transition them to their academic and athletic careers at Vanderbilt and introduce them to the Ingram Center, Athletics Department, and the campus community.
Community Commitment Ceremony
In partnership with the Office of Student Accountability and Community Standards, our student-athletes signed the Vanderbilt Honor Code. During the Community Commitment Ceremony, new students vow to follow the Vanderbilt Community Creed—a student-initiated statement of the values to which the Vanderbilt community aspires.
Resources
The Enrollment and Transitions team is available to all parents, coaches and staff during the recruitment, enrollment and transition process
STUDENT-ATHLETE ENROLLMENT PACKET
Upon their acceptance to Vanderbilt, all new student-athletes are provided an enrollment packet with all links, resources and checklists necessary to prepare for their arrival to campus.
Supporting student-athletes in their academic pursuits with programming and resources to maximize their potential in the classroom
Programming and Resources
Individual Meetings
Study Hall
• Required for all first-year studentathletes
• Implemented for other studentathletes as needed
Learning Services
• Provides academic assessments for student-athletes
• Hosts academic workshops covering reading, writing, study skills, etc.
• Assists student-athletes with academic accommodations
Tutoring Services
• Available to all student-athletes in various settings and sizes (in-person/virtual/group)
• Access to writing tutors in the Ingram Center
FALL ’23 SEMESTER ACADEMICS
3.37
28
ALL TEAMS
49
331
The Role of a Student Services Coordinator
Meet with student-athletes on a regular basis
Serve as liaison with coaches, professors, deans, sports medicine staff
Track academic progress
Prepare student-athletes academically for team travel
Ensure NCAA academic eligibility In conjunction with the Athletics Compliance Department and the University Registrar
Collaborate with Educational Enhancement Unit Learning Services, Tutoring, Academic Accommodations
Refer student-athletes to campus resources as needed Student Care Network, faculty advisers, Immersion Vanderbilt office, Vanderbilt libraries, etc.
3.44
ALL TEAMS
3.41
Faculty engagement is essential in supporting our student-athletes’ overall development. The Ingram Center coordinates campus collaborations through multiple faculty engagement opportunities.
• Majors/Minors Fair During Summer Bridge
• Distinguished Faculty Presentations at Games
• Faculty-Led Workshops
• Faculty Athletics Committee
STUDENT SERVICES ACADEMIC ALL-STARS
Veronica Fraley
Women’s Track
MS’23 in biomedical sciences; MEd’24 in human development studies; 2024 SEC Women’s Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year; 2024 First-Team Academic All-American; 2024 SEC Field Athlete of the Year; 2024 NCAA National Champion in Discus; 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Member.
Jennifer Loredo
Women’s Bowling
BA’24 in law, history and society; 2024 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Award; 2024 Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal; Member of the Vanderbilt Honor Council; 2023 NCAA National Champion and Tournament MVP.
Cole Sherwood
Men’s Golf
Matthew Hayball Football
MEd’24 in leadership and organizational performance; 2023 First-Team Academic All-American; 2023 Second-Team All-American (Vanderbilt’s first All-American football studentathlete since 2016 and first punter since 1996); 2023 First-Team All-SEC.
BS’24 in human and organizational development; 2024 SEC Men’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year; 2024 Golf Coaches Association of America Academic All-American and Second-Team All-American; 2024 Second-Team Academic All-American; 2024 FirstTeam All-SEC.
Providing resources and opportunities to foster the holistic growth and development of our student-athletes
Personal Development
Signature Events
• Welcome Back
• Stella’s and Fella’s Summit
• Graduation Reception
• Golden Dores
• Black Student-Athlete Summit
• Student-Athlete Affinity Groups
• Black Student-Athlete Group
• Athlete Ally
Professional Development
Career Exploration Opportunities
• Summer Internship Program
• Career Treks
• Alumni Engagement and Mentorship Program
Career Development Workshops
• LinkedIn Profile Review
• Resume/Cover Letter Review
• Mock Interviews Highlights
YMCA Y-CAP
Sarah Marvin, Track
Jackson Heis, Football
Payne Daniel, Football
Turner Construction
Gage Pitchford, Football
Tennessee Titans
Jenna Ravarino, Swimming
STUDENT-ATHLETES IN THE SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Sophomores 9
Juniors 32
Seniors 22
Graduates 25
“This summer I have had the opportunity to work in the Stress and Coping Research Lab under Dr. Bruce Compas. In our lab, we conduct various studies to better understand how children and families cope with stressful events. I feel so honored to be a part of this lab and conduct research that will have a lasting impact.”
Hannah Weissman Swimming
Vandy
Hub Internships In consulting, health care, law, real estate and wealth management
After a successful pilot in the New York City Hub last summer with two student-athletes, the Vandy Corporate Hub Internship Program expanded to all four hub cities—Atlanta, Houston, Miami and New York City.
ATLANTA
MIAMI
HOUSTON
NEW YORK CITY
Alex Wagner Soccer Atlanta
Amiyah Turner Lacrosse Miami
Mitchell Deames Men’s Tennis Miami
Dylan Ballard Men’s Cross Country Houston
Falon Spearman Women’s Track & Field Atlanta
Hutch Baird Football New York City
Audrey Allman Women’s Cross Country New York City
Rachel Deresky Soccer New York City
Miles Keeffe Men’s Basketball New York City
Leadership Development
• Be An Anchor Leadership Program
• Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
SEC LEADERSHIP COUNCIL VANDERBILT REPRESENTATIVES
Coleson Messer
Men’s Basketball
Jane Nwaba
Women’s Basketball
Bryan Longwell
Football
Kaylee Hitt
Bowling/Student-Athlete
Advisory Committee
Hannah Weissman
Swimming/Student-Athlete
Advisory Committee
SCAN TO WATCH NOW
Social Impact
Our commitment to social impact is evident in the opportunities we provide for student-athletes to give back to local and global communities.
• Team and Individual Opportunities
• Volunteering in the Community
• Dancing Dores Fundraising for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
Name, Image & Likeness
The Ingram Center’s comprehensive Name, Image & Likeness program is dedicated to educating and empowering Commodore student-athletes to fully capitalize on NIL opportunities while preparing them for the evolving landscape beyond college.
The Anchor Advantage program encompasses education on all NIL offerings available at Vanderbilt, enhances personal branding and provides essential financial education. Through these initiatives, Vanderbilt ensures our student-athletes are well-equipped to navigate and thrive in their athletic and professional careers. Learn more at vucommodores.com/vandynil.
Anchor Impact: NIL Collective
Anchor Impact is a third-party collective, whose core mission is to provide unwavering support, resources and opportunities for student-athletes’ holistic development, while fostering a passionate community that celebrates their achievements and personal growth. anchorimpact.com
SCAN TO LEARN MORE
STUDENT-ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT ALL-STARS
Meredith DiPasquale
Joslin Blair
As vice president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Joslin individually logged more than 90 community service hours in the Nashville community, spending the majority of her time with Alive Hospice, Jones Paideia Elementary, and Conversations to Remember. For two years in a row she also spearheaded an empowerment event for local elementary and middle school girls on National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
As a member of the Be an Anchor Leadership Committee, Meredith gained a better understanding of herself and explored personal values and characteristics that make a great leader. She also learned about the importance of leadership on a team and how to build a network of professional contacts. Meredith committed to a high level of participation in the program and to actively work to personally grow and develop.
Mya Georgiadis
Mya explored how to take advantage of name, image and likeness opportunities through the programming and resources available to her. She attended the NIL Summit and used what she learned to create a workshop she presented to the football team during summer programming.
The Ingram Center collaborates with campus and community partners to provide opportunities for student-athletes to explore new pathways
Thanks to a partnership with the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies, 16 Vanderbilt student-athletes and three faculty members spent a week on an international immersion experience in Guatemala. The trip consisted of two tracks: 1) a social impact and sustainability track with international nonprofit Soles4Souls and engineering professor Hiba Baroud and 2) a health care track with School of Nursing faculty members Manola McCain and Shelza Rivas.
Throughout the week in Guatemala, student-athletes gained knowledge through their experiences, including:
• Connection: a deeper sense of what social impact and community look like locally and globally, and how they can connect to make a larger impact individually.
• Challenge: A new understanding of diverse ways of thought, business structures and life.
• Community: Being a part of an intentional group to foster change, action and impact within their communities.
Community Partners
Summer Bridge Cultural Tour took our student-athletes to visit the National Museum of African American Music, the Islamic Center of Nashville and Assembly Food Hall. Through the tour, the student-athletes experienced Nashville’s diversity, rich history, varied cultures and vibrant community. The Ingram Center aims to inspire our student-athletes to appreciate and actively contribute to the city’s diverse fabric.
Through a collaboration between the Ingram Center and Communication Studies professors John Koch and ML Sandoz, our football student-athletes participated in a debate hosted by the Vanderbilt Civil Discourse Lab. The event kicked off Dialogue Vanderbilt’s fall activities that model and encourage civil discourse on campus. Dialogue Vanderbilt’s core mission is to bridge divides, reestablish a vibrant culture of civil discourse and free expression, and showcase experts from on campus and around the world, leading the charge to build more engaged individuals and communities.
STUDENT-ATHLETES ABROAD
Vanderbilt Athletics encourages student-athletes to pursue global academic opportunities.
“For the month of May, we hiked the Camino de Santiago from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. We completed over 250 miles of the Camino Frances route. We had the opportunity to try traditional food and immerse ourselves in the Spanish culture.”
– Meredith DiPasquale and Emily Carpenter, Swimming
“My study abroad trip opened my eyes not only to different cultures but also to the historical development of Paris and Barcelona. We learned about the revolutions and movements that took place in these cities. Living in these cities while learning about them really enriched the whole experience. One of my favorite moments was visiting the Palace of Versailles. Seeing it in pictures is one thing, but visiting in person made me realize just how massive these historical buildings and palaces really are.”
– Giavonna Meeks, Track
“My experience in Greece with Professor Harris went well beyond my expectations. It was both extremely informative and immersive within the Greek culture. I have grown as a person through my newly gained perspective on international cultures, and I wouldn’t trade my experience for the world. Thank you to Professor Harris and the Vanderbilt Athletics Academic Department for putting me in a position to (one may say ‘dare to’) grow.”
– Nick Rinaldi, Football
GRADUATION PLANS
Alan Espinal Baseball
Pursuing professional baseball with Major League Baseball
Alina Stout
Swimming Job in investment banking with Goldman Sachs
Anessa Lee
Women’s Tennis Job in People Advisory Services with Ernst and Young
Virginie Ding
Women’s Golf Pursuing professional golf with the LPGA
Haley Bishop Track
Graduate school at USC
Ezra Manjon
Men’s Basketball
Pursuing professional basketball in Europe
Joslin Blair
Cross Country Medical school at University of Colorado
Jaylen Mahoney Football Pursuing professional football with the NFL
Maddie Smith Swimming
Wattles Fellowship in London
EXAMPLES OF POSTGRAD PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT
Tina Bruni Soccer
Job as a private equity analyst with Brown Brothers Harriman
Maggie Arnold Lacrosse
Job in commercial real estate with Citi
SUPPORTING THE INGRAM CENTER FOR
STUDENT-ATHLETE SUCCESS FUND
As the Ingram Center continues to dare to grow, expanding support for the center’s programs and services for our student-athletes is vital to ensure that our Commodores have what they need to succeed on the fields of play, in the classroom and in their future careers.
By making a gift to the Ingram Center for Student-Athlete Success, you are investing in the future of our Commodore student-athletes.
