Web Chat
Young Professionals Program Chat
Join us to learn about our Master's of Accounting Program, MS Finance Program, Accelerator Program and MBA Program. Hear from current students and staff about the admissions process, life in Nashville and our programs.
This chat took place on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 but the transcript below is still available for viewing
Amy Johnson
MAcc Audit Program Director
Amy Johnson has been with Vanderbilt University since 2001, originally working with undergraduate students interested in business careers at the Vanderbilt Career Center. Since fall 2004, Amy has been in charge of creating new programs at Owen. She managed the design and development of the MS Finance (MSF) and Accelerator programs, including admissions, career management and program implementation. Currently, Amy is focusing on program administration for the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) Program. Amy enjoys spending time with her husband and son and loves to read and cook in her spare time.
Lindsay Donald
MAac Valuation Program Director
Lindsay Donald joined Vanderbilt University in 2011 with the specific focus of helping build the MAcc Valuation Program. Lindsay manages the admissions, career management and program implementation for this program, drawing on more than 10 years of experience with KPMG's recruiting function and significant experience working with the student activities functions at two academic institutions.
Graham Gockley
MAcc Program Campus Visit Coordinator
Bio coming soon!
Kate Barraclough
MS Finance Program Director
Kate comes to Owen with a PhD from Australian National University. She has written papers including: "A State-Contingent Claim Approach to Asset Pricing" and "Scaling Regression Equations: Solution or Problem?" Previously she was a manager at KPMG Canberra as a Financial Consultant to the Australian government. This background is yet another example of the way in which research, teaching and real-world experience come together within the Owen faculty. Under her guidance, MS Finance has introduced a new course on financial modeling (which she teaches), formed a board of advisers made up of distinguished alumni and friends of the school, and created an internship program for the MS Finance Class of 2012. The latter was an initiative proposed by alumnus Bruce Heyman, BA '79, MBA '80, who is Managing Director and Partner at Goldman Sachs in Chicago and a member of Owen's Board of Visitors.
Blake Gore
Senior Associate Director, Career Management Center
Early in his career, Blake realized that vocation is more than a job - it's an expression of your life's calling. Fascinated with this reality, he helps students discover where their gifts intersect with the world's needs and supports them as they transition into meaningful, fulfilling careers. Since joining Career Management Center at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management in 2010, Blake splits his time between working with MBAs and students seeking the MS Finance degree. He is a National Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Mississippi, where he earned his BA and an MEd in Counselor Education from the University of Mississippi. After serving as a Career Planning Specialist and Course Instructor at the University of Mississippi's Career Center, he became the Director of Huntingdon College's Center for Career and Vocation in Montgomery, AL. Before joining the career services team at Vanderbilt, he was recruited to Nashville to be an Associate at Stanton Chase International, a top 10 global retained executive search firm. A husband and father of three, Blake spends a lot of time attending soccer games and dance rehearsals. However, he sometimes is able to slip away to do non-profit work and explore hole-in-the-wall eateries around Nashville.
Courtney Fedou
Associate Director, Admissions
After graduating from UGA in 2003, Courtney worked in the legal field for three years in Nashville and then Washington, D.C. She made a move back to Nashville and decided to pursue a career in University Admissions, thus placing her here at Owen, where she has worked with the MBA Admissions Office since February 2007. Courtney is an avid music fanatic and is always on the hunt for great concerts and classic rock records. In addition to music, she enjoys spending time with family, reading books and actively participating in boot camp.
Bailey Garrett
Operations Manager, Admissions
Bailey Garrett earned a Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations from East Tennessee State University (ETSU) in Johnson City, Tennessee, where she served as the Orientation and Preview Assistant, coordinating the first-year orientation program. While working in the Office of Student Affairs, she went on to pursue her education earning a Master's Degree in Higher Education Counseling in the spring of 2009. Prior to joining the Admissions Team in March 2011, Bailey worked in Student Services at a career college in Nashville where she was responsible for student retention, tracking students' academic progress and planning student activities and graduation. Bailey is an avid college football fan and can often be found cheering on her favorite teams in the fall. She loves Mexican food, music, running, coffee and sending cards.
