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 Colorado State University, I commissioned into the Army Medical Service Corps in 2017. I first served as platoon leader and battalion medical operations officer in the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vicenza, Italy. Following this, I spent two years in South Korea as a company executive officer in the 121st Field Hospital. My final assignment was at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where I served as the brigade medical planner in 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. My experience in working with and leading some of the very best people that our country has to offer has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I am proud and am very humbled to have served with such incredible men and women.
What are your thoughts on mentoring other students while at Vanderbilt? As a role model, what values do you want to share?
I wouldn’t be the leader or student I am today if I hadn’t received the quality of mentorship that I did. I am very fortunate that my experience in the military taught me the importance of qualities like discipline, work ethic, and empathy. I hope to impart those values while demonstrating to any potential Bass Scholar or potential Vanderbilt MBA student that if I can do it, you can, too.
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 plan to focus on Strategy and H.O.P as my concentrations while at Owen. I want to leverage my experience in the military and newly learned business acumen to find roles related to public policy or public service.
What would you tell other veterans about the Bass Military Scholars Program?
Bottom line: you need to apply for it. This is the only program of its kind, and it allows you to connect with even more phenomenal veterans and go to school at Vanderbilt. In addition, I feel that the best part of this scholarship is that it emphasizes assisting the transition from the military while simultaneously fostering a strong sense of serving the Nashville and Vanderbilt community. I would encourage all veterans who want to attend a phenomenal school like Vanderbilt and are looking for ways to continue service out of the military to apply as soon as possible.