Staff

Tammy Day, Program Director

Tammy Day joined Vanderbilt Kennedy Center in April, 2009 as the founding director of Next Step. Tammy began her career over 25 years ago as a special education teacher. While in undergraduate school she became interested in high school to postsecondary transition programming for her students. This interest inspired her to pursue certification as a Work-Based Learning facilitator, and the completion of a master’s degree from Peabody College at Vanderbilt in 2000 with a focus on transition services. While working for Rutherford County Schools as a special education teacher and then the high school liaison and transition specialist, Tammy further developed transition services planning by designing numerous parent information events, transition in-service opportunities for teachers, and dual enrollment opportunities for students with disabilities at the Murfreesboro Tennessee Technology Center. Tammy states that she is thrilled to be in her current position, and honored to be helping to advance the opportunities for youth with disabilities in our state and region. “However, the biggest excitement comes when seeing the transformational learning that is occurring on the whole Vanderbilt University campus,” reports Tammy.

Tammy Day, Program Director

Alice G.H. Kim, Program Coordinator

Alice graduated from Vanderbilt University in May 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Human and Organizational Development and a minor in Studio Art. After graduation, Alice worked for Vanderbilt’s Medical Center in Development and Alumni Relations. During this time, Alice discovered the work of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and became involved with Best Buddies. The friendships that the program engenders are so rewarding and greatly enrich the lives of both students and the buddies!

In 2009, Alice had the opportunity to attend and aid in leading the first ever Best Buddies Alternative Spring Break. As an undergraduate, Alice participated and led four Alternative Spring and Winter Break trips. Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is “a student-run community service organization whose mission is to promote critical thinking, social action, and continued community involvement by combining education, reflection, and direct service on the local, regional, national, and international levels.” The trip provided an inclusive service-learning opportunity where eight Vanderbilt students and eight Best Buddies spent a week in Knoxville working together on a service project. The result of the trip changed many lives. For Alice, this trip changed her career path to working with individuals with intellectual disabilities through postsecondary education programming. Alice realized that this is a social justice issue and Best Buddies helped discover her calling in life.