Alice Ji, a 2006 Vanderbilt graduate and one of the youngest Board of Trust members, said it was the nervousness she experienced on her first day at Vanderbilt that inspired her to become a board member.
"I was (also) heavily involved in student orientation because of the uncertainty I faced upon move-in day freshman year," said Ji. "I wanted to show incoming students that Vanderbilt was a place where students' opinions matter and a place that encourages student involvement in all decisions, big and small."
Each year, students and faculty nominate graduating seniors to vie for a position as a Young Alumni Trustee. After a selection committee narrows down the nominees to three finalists, the graduating class and the classes one year above and below select the winner. According to Ji, these members help the board better understand the needs and concerns of current students and recently graduated alumni.
Ji said being a young trustee allowed her to better understand the administration's role within the university.
"It was an opportunity to continue my participation in the life of Vanderbilt. While I was heavily involved in many different aspects of student life, I had little exposure to the governance of the university and wanted to learn more - it intrigued me," Ji said.
Ji demonstrated her commitment to student orientation while she was still an undergraduate. She was president of VUcept, a Summer Academic Orientation Leader and a student employee in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Ji was also an ASB site leader, VSVS participant and vice president of communications for her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega.
Graduating with a degree in Engineering Science, Ji now works for Accenture, a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company in Arlington, Va. Ji said her orientation experience at Vanderbilt has carried over to her work at Accenture. She works as a talent and organization performance consultant, helping people face transitions in their careers.
Ji serves on Accenture's Corporate Citizenship and Civic Action Team, where she plans community service opportunities and events for her fellow employees. Ji is also vice president of the D.C. alumni association and is currently training to run a marathon in the coming year.
