Peabody Ambassa’dores

Quick links

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

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.

Kaitie Reich

Katie Reich

Higher Education Administration

Katie Reich is a second year Higher Education Administration student within the Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations (LPO). Katie is originally from Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2021 with degrees in Political Science and Communication.

While at the University of Missouri, Katie worked with the school’s learning center as a study plan consultant. Working with students to create a plan for the semester led her to dig deeper into the systems of higher education, sparking a desire to return to school and, eventually, to work in enrollment management.

Katie chose to pursue her degree at Vanderbilt because of the breadth of opportunity available to HEA students. She found that being able to take classes in a variety of subjects alongside an internship experience allows for a more cohesive picture of the higher education landscape. Additionally, she found that the smaller cohort style provides a sense of community that has been essential on her education journey.

Kaitie Reich

Hailey Vandenbosch

Human Development Counseling (HDC)

Hailey is a first-year student in the Human Development Counseling (HDC) Program within the Department of Human and Organizational Development (HOD). After growing up in Seattle, Washington, Hailey earned a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College in Vermont where she majored in Psychology, and received a minor in Education Studies. 

During her time at Middlebury, Hailey volunteered at The Scooty Fund, a non-profit organization founded in the Seattle Area. The Scooty Fund aims to destigmatize conversations surrounding mental health among youth and young adults. While at Middlebury, Hailey also served as the Co-President of the Community Friends Club—a one-on-one mentoring program between local children and college students. Both of these experiences deepened Hailey’s appreciation of and passion for mental health advocacy and connecting with people.

Hailey chose to pursue her degree at Vanderbilt due to the rich internship experiences that HDC students experience during their program. In addition to the small class sizes, she also appreciated the diverse topics addressed in coursework that would be relevant to her future in the field of counseling.

Kaitie Reich

Alex Bussom

Higher Education Administration

Alex Bussom is a first-year Higher Education Administration student within the Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations (LPO). Alex is originally from Greenville, South Carolina, and graduated with a degree in Communication Studies from Furman University in 2024. 

 

While at Furman University, Alex worked as a concierge and ambassador in the Office of Admissions and as a Coordinator with New Student Orientation. Through these roles, she gained a passion for mentorship by working with new and prospective students. This ultimately influenced her decision to pursue a career in enrollment management and obtain her master's degree in higher education administration.  

 

Following her undergraduate graduation, Alex decided to pursue her degree at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College because the courses here provide a holistic approach to learning about the different elements of higher education while still allowing her to gain opportunities through practicum and internships focused on enrollment management. Additionally, Alex was looking for a smaller cohort and class sizes to continue the close-knit community environment in which she thrives.