Peabody Ambassa’dores

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Peabody Ambassa'dores are representatives of the Office of Graduate Admissions who serve as a resource for prospective and admitted students to share information about their experience deciding to attend, transitioning to, and enrolling at Peabody.

What Peabody Ambassa'dores can help with:

  • Answer general questions about specific professional programs (M.Ed., M.P.P, M.S., and Ed.D.) and the admissions process
  • Provide a genuine student experience perspective
  • Describe what the experience of relocating to Nashville is like
  • Discuss what to take advantage of when you are a Peabody student at Vanderbilt University

Please keep in mind that Ambassa'dores cannot discuss application details or answer questions about competitiveness of an applicant. They also cannot discuss status or decision information. Anything related to funding, payments, I20 or Visa processing, course registration and advisement will be referred to professional staff members.

Meet our Ambassa'dores

Kelsey Olsen

Kelsey Olsen

Higher Education Administration (HEA)

Kelsey Olsen is a student in the Higher Education Administration (HEA) program within the Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations. Kelsey is originally from Hartville, Missouri, and attended Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where she double-majored in Writing and Advertising/Public Relations.

After graduating from Drury in 2018, Kelsey spent four years working in college admissions and enrollment management. As a first-generation college graduate, she found the opportunity to work with prospective college applicants incredibly rewarding, and her experiences in international undergraduate admissions and law school admissions inspired her to learn more about the role of higher education in the U.S. both nationally and internationally.

Kelsey chose to pursue a master's degree at Vanderbilt's Peabody College because of the HEA program's commitment to being at the forefront of change within higher education. She feels confident that Peabody's emphasis on data analysis, research, and experiential learning will prepare her for a leadership role in enrollment management while allowing her to simultaneously explore other areas of interest in the HEA program. Kelsey was also drawn to Peabody's focus on the holistic wellbeing of each student, and the deeply rooted sense of community among Peabody staff, faculty, and students.

Vanessa Pei

Vanessa Pei

International Education Policy Management (IEPM)

Vanessa Pei is a first-year student in the International Education Policy Management(IEPM) Program within the Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations(LPO). Vanessa is originally from Beijing, China. She pursued her undergraduate education at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, where she double majoring in Education, Communities, and Organizations, as well as International Studies.

During her senior year at the University of Washington, Vanessa interned with Real Change, a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for economic, social, and racial justice. Her work there primarily focused on Initiative 135, which aimed to address affordable housing and homelessness issues in the Seattle area. Through her work, Vanessa fostered strong connections with the local community, gained insights into their needs, and contributed to policy-related initiatives aimed at resolving community issues.

Following her graduation, Vanessa decided to further her education by enrolling at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College. She continues to explore topics related to equality, equity, and inclusive education and policy. Vanessa chose the IEPM program for its ability to provide her with the academic skills necessary to critically examine the impact of education on social and economic development. Vanessa is passionate about leveraging this knowledge to work on education policy in higher education and engage in strategic planning.

Matthew Rollo

Matthew Rollo

World Languages

Matthew Rollo is a student in the World Languages program within the Department of Teaching and Learning. Matthew is originally from McCordsville, Indiana, in the suburbs of Indianapolis. He attended Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, where he double-majored in History and French.

At Centre College, Matthew also had two internships teaching English in France: one as an English assistant at the Université de Strasbourg, and another as an assistant in History and Geography and as a Conversational English teacher at the Collège Saint Joseph du Loquidy in Nantes. Upon graduation from Centre in 2022, he returned to France as an English assistant at the Collège Yvons Delbos in the village of Montignac, Dordogne. Through these experiences, Matthew developed a passion for teaching English as a foreign language, especially in the Franco-Anglo context.

Matthew chose to pursue a master's degree at Vanderbilt's Peabody College for many reasons. First, Peabody is one of the few institutions to offer a master's in World Languages that allows him to obtain licensure in both ESL and French, helping him continue a career in international education and the teaching of both English and French. Second, he values Peabody's dedication to preparing dynamic teachers capable of responding to calls for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the K-12 setting. Lastly, he appreciates the feeling of home that Peabody aims to provide its students, faculty, and staff: there's no place like home!