Student-Athlete Development

We prepare student-athletes to become leaders and champions in life by placing the highest values on integrity, character, sportsmanship and victory.

Balancing academic success, athletic competition, and personal growth along with student life can be very challenging for the student-athlete. The Student-Athlete Development Program represents the comprehensive commitment by the Vanderbilt Athletic Department to foster the total growth and development of our student-athletes.

We are committed to:

Meet the Staff

Alison Wenzel

Associate Athletic Director
Director of Ingram Center for Student-Athlete Success
alison.wenzel@vanderbilt.edu
615.343.5463
she/her/hers

Alison Wenzel started working in Student-Athlete Development as the Life Skills Coordinator in October of 2006. In June 2016, Wenzel was promoted to the Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development. She oversees all Career Development, Personal Development and Community Outreach initiatives for all men and women sports teams. Prior to joining Student-Athlete Development, Wenzel served as Vanderbilt Athletics Assistant Director of Marketing. Wenzel earned her bachelors’ and masters degree from The University of Florida in Exercise and Sport Sciences.

Amari Dryden

Director for Career Development
amari.dryden@vanderbilt.edu
615.343.1962
she/her/hers

Amari Dryden joined Vanderbilt Athletics in 2022. Dryden is responsible for preparing student-athletes for life after collegiate sports through career counseling and mentoring, executing career-based events, and coordinating employer and alumni interactions. She is also in charge of Vanderbilt’s summer internship program. Dryden previously served as a student-athlete engagement intern and career counseling graduate assistant at Ohio State, and worked for EY as an assurance staff member.

Dryden received her undergraduate degree in business administration with a specialization in accounting from Ohio State in 2018 and her master’s degree in higher education and student affairs in 2022. She is originally from Louisville, Kentucky.

Jax Collins

Assistant Director for Student-Athlete Development
jacqueline.w.collins@vanderbilt.edu
615.322.8013
she/her/hers

Jax Collins joins Vanderbilt Athletics as the Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development as a graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School and with a history of higher education programming. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia where she worked with Hoos football program as an equipment manager. Jax is responsible for collaborating with community partners to provide social impact opportunities for student-athletes, facilitate leadership development programming, and curate and implement innovative Name, Image, and Likeness holistic programming.