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.

Please also note that while we make every effort to connect you with a current student, during summer months, or at other times when our current students may be unavailable, your questions may be answered by professional staff members, many of whom are Peabody alumni. 

Meet our Ambassa'dores

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.