Staff

Natalie Arana

Assistant Director of Marketing

Natalie is a marketing and communications professional with over a decade of experience across higher education, nonprofit, media, and startup spaces. Currently serving as Assistant Director of Marketing, with a focus on external audiences—including donors, alumni, parents, and corporate partners—she collaborates on creative and strategic marketing, branding, and public relations initiatives that elevate the College’s profile and inspire engagement. She is dedicated to building purpose-driven brands, content and communities that drive innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration—and is inspired by the CCC’s commitment to computing that is accessible and beneficial to all.Before joining Vanderbilt, Natalie led marketing and brand awareness fundraising efforts at United Way Miami to local audiences in English and Spanish, and was a founding team member of RETHINK Retail, a B2B multimedia company covering global trends, innovations, and executive thought leadership in commerce.Natalie has a Master of Science in Marketing from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of Central Florida.

Sarah Beck

Deputy Chief of Staff

Sarah is a proud Double ‘Dore (B.S. 2018, M.Ed 2020) with a background in education, psychology, and counseling. Sarah began her career as a professional school counselor in Metro Nashville Public Schools, where she earned a national award for her work implementing a school-wide framework that helped improve students’ academic performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. She then transitioned to higher education, returning to Vanderbilt as a program manager for an equity-focused NIH grant before joining the CCC in April 2025. Sarah is passionate about equitable access to higher education, and is excited to contribute to the CCC’s mission: Computing for All.

Carter Connolley

Senior Undergraduate Program Manager

Carter Connolley is the Senior Undergraduate Program Manager for the College of Connected Computing. He has been with Vanderbilt University for 3 years, previously serving as the Undergraduate Program Coordinator. Some of his hobbies outside of work include exercise, camping, and photography.

Charis Cooper

Associate Director of Development

Charis Cooper joined Vanderbilt in 2024. She is focused on building strong donor partnerships and advancing meaningful philanthropy that fuels innovation and impact at the College of Connected Computing. Outside of work, Charis enjoys singing and songwriting, as well as spending quality time with her husband and their dog.

Richard H. Do

Grants Manager

Amber Douglass

Assistant Director of Enrollment

John Ellis

Academic Services Coordinator

Sarazen Haile, CRA

Research Lead

Melissa Harrell

Ph.D. Program Manager

Chris Hilario

Senior Director of Enrollment

Chris Hilario is the Senior Director of Enrollment at Vanderbilt University's College of Connected Computing, where he oversees graduate admissions and enrollment strategy for programs within the CCC. Before joining Vanderbilt, he served as Executive MBA Program Director at Georgia State University's Robinson College of Business, where he managed a broad range of program operations spanning marketing, recruitment, student experience, and alumni engagement. Earlier in his career, he oversaw admissions for Georgia Tech's Evening MBA program. He holds an MBA from Texas Christian University and a bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University.

Hanna Hoover

Senior Financial Director

As Senior Financial Director for the CCC, I bring 10 years of experience at Vanderbilt, leading financial planning and operations. I enjoy partnering with faculty and staff to navigate complex challenges and build processes that enable innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. I received my Bachelor of Business Administration from Mississippi State University and my MBA from Lipscomb University.

Lori Houjack, CRA

Senior Grants Manager

Lori Houjak is a Certified Research Administrator with over 15 years of experience in sponsored research administration. She serves as Senior Grants Manager in the College of Connected Computing at Vanderbilt University, where she provides strategic oversight across the full lifecycle of grant management and supports faculty in the development and administration of complex sponsored projects. Her expertise spans pre- and post-award administration, compliance oversight, and financial stewardship.

Marlene Hunt

Faculty Affairs Manager

Marlene has worked in higher education for 30+ years as an administrator in academics, faculty affairs, human resources, and advancement. She came to us from the University of Washington in 2025, and prior to that, worked for The University of Oregon, The Ohio State University, Ohio University, and The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She currently lives in Franklin with her dog Keegan, where they hike and explore, and is thoroughly enjoying her return to the familiar beauty of the Tennessee landscape.

Lindsay Meyers

Director of Corporate Partnerships

Lindsay Meyers serves as Director of Corporate Partnerships at Vanderbilt University's College of Connected Computing, where she helps lead strategic hiring, operational infrastructure, and internal institutional partnerships. She brings nearly two decades of experience at Vanderbilt, most recently as Assistant Dean for Operations and Administration in the School of Medicine's Office for Biomedical Research Education and Training, where she helped support the biomedical research education enterprise serving 1,100 predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees in over 300 faculty members' labs. Lindsay holds a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Davidson College.

Amber Miller

Director of Administrative Operations and Faculty Support

Caitlin Moak

Assistant Director of Marketing

Jared Mott

Facilities Manager

Miguel Nunez

Enrollment and Recruitment Manager

Connor Pham

Generative AI Engineer

Connor Pham is a Gen AI Engineer at Vanderbilt University, where he builds and integrates AI systems and applications to accelerate workflows. He focuses on developing practical solutions and exploring new advancements in artificial intelligence. Connor is particularly interested in applying emerging technologies to real-world problems, with a focus on compliance systems, cyber-physical systems, edge AI, and safety-critical environments.

Beth Porter

Executive Assistant

As the Executive Assistant to the Dean, Beth provides high-level administrative support including managing the Dean’s calendar, coordinating faculty actions, and helping oversee the daily operations of the Dean’s Office. Beth has been at Vanderbilt since 2013. She has held multiple roles including positions in Development and Alumni Relations and the Office of the Vice Provost for Arts, Libraries, and Global Engagement.Beth grew up in Georgetown, TX and first came to Nashville to attend Vanderbilt University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts. In her free time, Beth enjoys cheering on the Commodores and exploring Nashville with her husband and two boys.

Sara Raiszadeh

Graduate Program Coordinator

Julia Rumsey

Director of Academic Services

Julia is the Director of Academic Services in the College of Connected Computing (CCC), where she leads the development of student-centered academic support initiatives and is building an integrated Office of Academic Services to enhance advising and the overall student experience. She brings a background in higher education and student services, with a focus on organizational design, collaboration, and creating systems that support student success.

Julia holds a Master's in Public Administration and Policy and an MS in Student Affairs from Binghamton University and a BA in History from the State University of New York at New Paltz. Additionally, she is currently working on her PhD.

Chad Smith

Undergraduate Affairs Coordinator

Don Snyder

Associate Dean for Development

Don Snyder has twenty years' experience in higher education advancement and has been with Vanderbilt since 2023. He brings a passion for the CCC's mission and enjoys tinkering with AI-first solutions when he's not working. 

Corey Turner

Chief of Staff

Stella Vazna

Chief Business Officer

Kristine Yancey

Executive Assistant to the Associate Deans