Vanderbilt fosters a community where students are inspired to lead, innovate and learn skills to direct their own unique paths and make a real difference in the world.
Discover the stories of three remarkable students from the Class of 2025 who are shaping a better tomorrow through their work on national security, business and improving health care.
JULIA RED WING USES CHALLENGES AS A CHARGE TO CREATE BETTER HEALTH CARE
When it comes to wrestling with health care and economic crises and the harrowing impact both have on families, Minnesota native Julia Red Wing has become an expert by necessity. Her sister, nephews and father all suffer from debilitating health and special needs issues. As a young caregiver, she experienced firsthand the emotional, physical and economic drain.
But with the support and experiences she has had at Vanderbilt, the and double major is using her circumstances as motivation to make an impact.
鈥淚 am passionate about fixing a health care system that should be uplifting people,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y dream in life would be to end generational trauma for my family and for others. I want to be that big turning point.鈥�
HEALTH CARE WITH HEART
Red Wing鈥檚 ultimate goals are to use positions in health care management to increase efficiency and fairness among underserved, rural, Indigenous and low-income populations. And she鈥檚 already doing that with an internship-turned-job as a project coordinator for Covalus Consulting, a company that specializes in opening hospitals.
鈥淛ulia has seen firsthand how systems in our country make it challenging for those with limited health literacy or access to reach their full potential. She has known since she walked onto the Vanderbilt campus exactly what her purpose would be. Thus, she has brought together the fields of medicine, sociology and organizational development as a way to understand, harness and mobilize the human capital needed to change the health care system for vulnerable groups,鈥� said , assistant professor of the practice of psychological sciences.
UNDERSTANDING THROUGH 大象传媒app
Red Wing found inspiring research projects to further her goals in the run by Boles, as well as the .
鈥淚 told Dr. Boles I wanted to help kids like my nephew, who have PTSD from so much time in the health care system. She taught me about pediatric medical traumatic stress, which is a form of diagnosed PTSD, and that鈥檚 what I focused my summer research on,鈥� Red Wing said.
CONNECTING WITH HER HERITAGE
Boles also helped Red Wing outside the lab, by giving her a space to connect with her Native American heritage.
鈥淢y grandfather was a Santee Sioux and the first generation to live off a reservation, and my grandma is Guatemalan. I鈥檓 very thankful to hold on to both of their cultures because they represent past figures, past generations in my family鈥檚 lineage of people who fought for freedom, people who fought for a better life. And that鈥檚 everything I stand for,鈥� said Red Wing, who has also been a resident adviser at Vanderbilt for three years. 鈥淚 wake up and I work 12-hour days normally, because that鈥檚 what Red Wings do.鈥�
Red Wing said Boles gave her a supportive environment to explore her roots.
鈥淭alking with Dr. Boles was the first time I connected with someone about my Native American heritage because she has studied Native American religions, and she was the first person that was just so excited to hear my story.鈥�
Red Wing became active in Vanderbilt鈥檚 and danced in to honor her Guatemalan side. She also earned a prestigious Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship that helped her learn about other cultures through a study abroad program across South Africa, Spain, and Italy.
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Red Wing openly talks about having 鈥渋mposter syndrome鈥� when coming to Vanderbilt, and she credits the and for helping her throughout her college experience.
鈥淚f I could talk to my younger self, I would say that it鈥檚 okay to acknowledge the difficulties you face and to not be afraid to show both the light and dark aspects of who you are,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 used to think that pushing my struggles aside would help me find happiness and would pave the path of success, but I鈥檝e learned that growth comes from vulnerability and stepping outside of your comfort zone and then working hard. That ultimately led to my healing process.鈥�
Red Wing believes her Vanderbilt experience changed her life for the better.
鈥淰anderbilt is a safe place for transformation鈥攁 place where you鈥檙e not just prepared for a career, but for a life of purpose, service and connection,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 what makes Vanderbilt so special to me. They were able to help me toward the future I鈥檝e always been fighting for.鈥�
EVELYN MARX, ENTHUSIASTIC ENGINEER
When Evelyn Marx, an electrical and computer engineering double major in the describes her interest in engineering and advanced technology, she uses the word 鈥減assionate鈥濃�攁nd her actions and accolades back that up.
The central Ohio native has been learning about engineering since she started taking classes at Ohio State University her junior year of high school and participated in OSU鈥檚 underwater robotics team.
鈥淚 joke that I鈥檝e been in college for a very long time now,鈥� she said, laughing. 鈥淏ut that helped me narrow down the type of engineering I was drawn to.鈥�
SUPPORTING U.S. DEFENSE
The U.S. Department of Defense saw her potential early on and selected her as a (Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation) in her first year. The award provides students with mentorship, summer internships and full-time employment with the DoD in defense engineering after graduation.
鈥淏efore my sophomore year, I worked at the Missile Defense Agency and had hands-on experience, which was very surreal,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd because Vanderbilt has such close ties to the Department of Defense and the Missile Defense Agency, I鈥檝e continued working during the school year.鈥�
She is also active in , and its partnership with the institutional partnership SCALE (Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement) microelectronics workforce development program.
鈥淒uring Evelyn鈥檚 four years, she has taken advantage of opportunities to meaningfully contribute to technical research and has served well in leadership roles and as a role model in mentoring other students,” said Marx鈥檚 longtime mentor, , research professor of electrical engineering and interim director of ISDE.
“Her strong technical skills, excellent people skills and inherent curiosity will make her an asset to any organization and an excellent college professor in the future.”– Michael Alles
STUDENT TO TEACHER
Now Marx is moving from student to teacher鈥攚ith current engineers in the defense industry.
鈥淢y newest project is called Lab RaTTS, which is a funny acronym for laboratory radiation test training simulator,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 teaching engineers in the defense industry how to test the very sensitive and expensive electronic elements on their missile or rocket or satellite, so they can survive in space and contribute to protecting our country.鈥�
FINDING BALANCE
But don鈥檛 let her incredible engineering resume fool you. Evelyn is also passionate about creating balance. She鈥檚 been a leader in and the academic chair of her sorority Zeta Tau Alpha, among other activities.
鈥淚 love my sorority, and I’ve met my best friends ever,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think being a part of these woman-run organizations outside of the classroom is really important to me because much of what I do in engineering can tend to be very male-dominated. Having strong women that I鈥檓 inspired by, that I can lean on, has been pivotal to my success here on campus.鈥�
HER GREATEST INSPIRATION
While Marx has been on a uniquely charged path, she credits her late father, who passed away shortly before she started at Vanderbilt, with helping her map her future.
鈥淢y dad was the most amazing parent and educator ever. He was an English professor, and he really helped me process all of my thoughts. Because I think when you鈥檙e applying to college and choosing what you want to do, it鈥檚 super overwhelming. But I could really lean on my dad, and it made the process a lot more fun. It鈥檚 a memory with him that I鈥檒l always cherish,鈥� she said.
Read more of Evelyn Marx鈥檚 experiences in an upcoming Q&A.
MILITARY VETERAN RYAN THOMAS BUILDS WORK/LIFE BALANCE
Ryan Thomas clearly recalls memories of a decade of overseas deployments鈥攚orking to save lives as an Army medic and ultimately managing teams of health care providers in military emergency rooms. Those memories take a back seat to the joy Thomas and his husband recently experienced as the five-year adoption process of their foster child finally came through.
It was that family milestone that gave Thomas the ultimate motivation to retire from the Army and pivot his experience into the civilian workforce and earning a master鈥檚 degree in health care, human and organizational performance and marketing at the
鈥淚 left the military just a week before starting classes at Owen. It was an honor and blessing to be of value to my country and work alongside so many great people. Now I鈥檓 ready to challenge myself and help others in a new way,鈥� he said.
Thomas has accepted a position with Sam鈥檚 Club at their corporate office in Arkansas.
鈥淭hough it鈥檚 a big departure from health care and emergency medicine, combining organizational performance and marketing has been really exciting,鈥� he said.
UNIQUE ROAD
Thomas completed his undergraduate degree over multiple years, taking night classes while working full-time in the Army. He said honing the work ethic to balance work, school and family has set him up for success.
鈥淭he 鈥榙are to grow鈥� motto definitely fits for me. I have an open mindset, and I鈥檓 willing to share my experiences and learn from others in different cultures, with different perspectives, different ideas. That鈥檚 the whole idea of working in collaboration. If you don鈥檛 ask the question and open yourself to learn, how do you even know if you were right or if someone else is wrong?鈥� he said.
Thomas has also been recruiting for Owen Admissions, sharing his unique story.
鈥淩yan is one of the most personable students I鈥檝e worked with. He is a light in our community, creating deep connections with his magnetic personality. Hearing him share examples in a recent panel about how he strove to create an inclusive and understanding community as an LGBTQIA member of the military was very moving, and you could easily see what a dynamic and powerful leader he is,鈥� said Amanda Fend, director of MBA recruiting.
LIFE GOALS AND ADVICE
Thomas said one of his joys now that he鈥檚 consistently stateside has been coaching his son鈥檚 soccer team. He also has a goal of running a full marathon in all 50 states. So far, he鈥檚 completed six races.
鈥淰anderbilt has given me so many opportunities to make my own future a success. It鈥檚 up to the individual to make it happen, but the opportunities and connections are here,鈥� he said.
鈥淲hen I talk to prospective students, I often say, ‘We all started somewhere. Some of us, like me, are very far from what you might imagine the typical MBA student. But no matter where you are in life, if you have a dream, you just have to start.’鈥�
- Look for more stories in the Class of 2025 storytelling series
- Meet members of the Class of 2025 building community in meaningful ways
- Meet four members of the Class of 2025 who are transforming lives by collaborating in engineering, medicine, mentorship and education
- Follow all the latest Commencement 2025 news and updates on the
- Share your Commencement photos and tag #VU2025