NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt men’s basketball student-athlete Quentin Millora-Brown will earn his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering this week.
The Virginia native led the Commodores with 38 blocks and was second in rebounding (5.6 rebounds per game) for the 2021-22 season.
Millora-Brown will again suit up for the Commodores for the 2022-23 season while working toward his master’s degree from Vanderbilt University.
Q: What does it mean to you to earn a Vanderbilt degree?
QMB: Earning a Vanderbilt degree is a huge milestone in my life. It’s like the starting point for the rest of my life. It has given me skills and experiences which will serve me for the rest of my life.
Q: How do you plan to use your degree?
QMB: I hope to make an impact on the world with my degree. I have a special interest in the environment. The world is a place that we all share. I hope to help with the development of some technology which will help to prevent the amount of pollution that we as a society are pumping into the world.
Q: What has your academic journey at Vanderbilt been like?
QMB: My academic journey here at Vanderbilt has been like climbing a mountain. At times it was a struggle where I had to keep my head to the ground and grind. Other times I got to relax and enjoy the views. Along the way I have made lifelong friends and created memories to cherish for the rest of my life. It has been an experience that I wouldn’t change for the world.
Q: What was the most rewarding part about your time at Vanderbilt — on or off the court?
QMB: The most rewarding part of my time here at Vanderbilt has to be graduating. Honestly breaking the stereotypes that all athletes are dumb or that we are only here to play our sport. I feel like people are constantly saying you can’t do both because there isn’t enough time, but there is. It’s all about whether one is willing to put in the work and have the discipline to execute. Showing others that athletes can be just as good in the classroom as they are on the court.
Q: What was your fondest memory at Vanderbilt off the court?
QMB: Honestly my best memories off the court are just hanging out in my room with friends cooking food and eating. Sunday dinners are the best. Spending the day preparing food for everyone then sitting down and eating together. It’s like a break from the constant rush of basketball, school and work. It allows me to take a moment to breathe and appreciate everything that is going on around me.
Q: What was your fondest memory at Vanderbilt on the court?
QMB: My fondest memory on the court was our run in the NIT. Postseason is a dream for every athlete, however there are only so many teams that have the opportunity to experience it every year. Being able to play in the postseason this year was amazing and I hope to be able to continue and build on it in the coming season.
Q: What program are you enrolling in for master’s degree and how will that help further your career?
QMB: I am enrolling in the combustion lab here at Vanderbilt. The combustion lab uses lasers to analyze flames that have different compositions and burn patterns. The work done there can be applied in fields where flames are used such as aerospace and energy production in natural gas power plants. I hope that this will lead me to a place where I can try to reduce the production of pollutants that are released into the environment.
