Meet an Alumna: Valerie Lott

Valerie Lott, M.Ed. 2018, on how the CDA program contributed to her continued learning Valerie Lott is a December 2018 graduate of the CDA program. She currently is completing her final year of law school at Elon University and aspires to be a civil rights attorney. Before coming to Peabody, Lott studied Education at Louisiana…

Posted by Lauren Scarborough on May 13, 2022 in Alumni, Alumni

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Meet an Alumna: Kayla Anderson

Kayla Anderson, M.Ed. 2020, on the transitions throughout her academic career Kayla Anderson graduated from the CDA program in May 2020. Currently, she is a 2nd year CRA student studying water justice in Dr. Yolanda McDonald’s lab. During her time in the CDA program, she had her practicum placement at the Nashville Civic Design Center. With…

Posted by Lauren Scarborough on May 6, 2022 in Alumni, Alumni

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CDA Alumni Spotlight: Recent Publications

CDA alums across the country may all be working on various issues but they all leave with the same set of durable Vanderbilt skills. As an interdisciplinary program, CDA ensures graduates are prepared for their next steps by grounding their education in rigorous academic study. Below are some examples of ways that alums have used…

Posted by Hannah Freeman on March 5, 2020 in Alumni

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Meet an Alumnus: Brendan O’Connor

 Brendan O’Connor, M.Ed. 2012 Senior Organizer and Grantwriter, Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth, and Reconciliation Q: Can you tell me a little bit about your background? Where you are from originally and what did you do before you came to Vanderbilt? I grew up in Staunton, a small town in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. I…

Posted by Janine Christiano on April 8, 2019 in Alumni, Alumni

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CDA Entrepreneurs: Amy and Jessica of Elevate Consulting

Recently, several alumni of our program have utilized the skills they gained in human and organizational development in new ways—by starting their own businesses. Some of those include Amy Merritt Campbell (M.Ed. ’14) and Jessica Benton (M.Ed. ’13) of Elevate Consulting. Here’s what they, along with cofounder Hannah Wohltjen (MA, MPH), have to say about their business…

Posted by Janine Christiano on January 8, 2019 in Alumni, Alumni

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CDA Entrepreneur: Dawn Harris of Tree of Life Education Center

Recently, several alumni of our program have utilized the skills they gained in human and organizational development in new ways—by starting their own businesses. One of those includes Dawn Harris (M.Ed. ’16) of Tree of Life Education Center. Here’s what she has to say about her business and the path she took to get there: “The CDA program taught me the…

Posted by Janine Christiano on November 2, 2018 in Alumni, Alumni

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Meet an Alumnus: Geordie Brackin

Geordie Brackin, M.Ed. 2010 Director of Global Innovation, Bridge International Academies “I came to the CDA program having themed interests in education and community-building, but not knowing what my path would be. I’ve now been living abroad and working in international education for the past 6 years and I owe that to the experiences I…

Posted by Anna Warren on April 9, 2018 in Alumni, Alumni

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Meet an Alumna: Sarah Imran

M.Ed. 2017 Director of Policy and Research, Metro Human Relations Commission “The CDA program provided an excellent balance of structure through core courses, as well as freedom to carve out our own unique paths.” Q: Where are you from originally and what did you do before coming to Vanderbilt? I am originally from Islamabad, Pakistan,…

Posted by Anna Warren on March 12, 2018 in Alumni, Alumni

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Meet an Alumna: Gabby Flynn

Gabriella Flynn  M.Ed. 2015 Program Coordinator, Columbia University Medical Center, Program for Global and Population Health “The way that CDA prepares you to be a reflective, generative practitioner who works with the community interests in mind is something that is invaluable to my work now as a researcher.” Q: Where are you from originally and…

Posted by Anna Warren on February 2, 2018 in Alumni, Alumni

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Meet an Alumnus: Courtney Williams

M.Ed. 2011 Dillard University, Director of Student Engagement and Leadership “I rely a lot on my training with CDA, helping students to see the college as the community that they should develop.” Q: To begin, can you tell me a little bit about your background? Where you are from originally and how did you end…

Posted by Anna Warren on January 19, 2018 in Alumni, Alumni

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