Meet the Student Planning Committee
In keeping with the student-led, student run tradition of C.O.O.L., each year the staff members of Idealist On Campus invite local students to become involved with the planning of the C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference. This group works diligently in the months leading up to the conference influencing and coordinating every aspect of the event-from the program content to the social events held during the conference. The Student Planning Committee is truly the heart and soul of the C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference!
This year's Student Planning Committee will be supported locally by the Vanderbilt University Office of Active Citizenship and Service and the Division of Student Life.
Student Planning Committee Director
Stacy Tolos, Vanderbilt University, Junior
Stacy Tolos is a junior at Vanderbilt University double majoring in Human and Organizational Development and Sociology. Ever since middle school she knew she wanted to change the world. As a result of her extensive community service involvement in high school, she was awarded the Ingram Scholarship, a full tuition scholarship based on academics, leadership and a lifelong commitment to serving others.
At Vanderbilt, she founded and coordinated a student organization, Synergy College Preparatory and Mentoring Program, providing underprivileged area high school students with mentors and college preparatory assistance. The program was a great success, and has been passed on to new leadership in order to foster sustainability. Stacy spent the summer after her freshman year in Kumasi, Ghana, teaching in an elementary school and founding a library at the school. The following summer, Stacy volunteered full-time at Ashoka - Innovators for the Public Headquarters in Washington, D.C. as a Marketing Associate where she coordinated the redesign and redevelopment of the international web site.
Stacy attended and conducted a workshop at the 2005 C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference in Berkeley which strongly impacted her in many ways. She obtained her internship through a contact she met while at the conference. She found new direction for her future career at the conference. She also met other world-changers with whom she has maintained contact. She is very excited to work on the 2006 C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference at Vanderbilt University, and seeks to make sure that it is "COOLer" than ever before.
Student Planning Committee Project Area Coordinators
Hospitality Project Area Coordinators
Bartholomew Freeze, Vanderbilt University, Junior
Bartholomew Freeze is a junior at Vanderbilt from Dayton, OH. Bartholomew is
majoring in Sociology and minoring in Economics. Bartholomew digs live music,
friends, and sunbeams. Bartholomew is a really good freestyle dancer/listener.
As a result of his work with the conference, Bartholomew commits to expanding the Sierra Club and its activities at Vanderbilt.
Star Wallin, Vanderbilt University, Senior
Star Wallin is a senior studying environmental public policy and sociology at Vanderbilt University.
She has lived through two hurricanes in her short life, Andrew as a resident of south Florida and most recently Katrina
as a current resident of Picayune, MS. She is passionate about protecting and understanding the earth and its
creatures and is drawn to explore the intersection of education, justice, healthcare and the environment.
On campus, she is currently pouring her energy into making Vanderbilt a sustainable institution. She is thrilled to be
joining her fellow C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference participants in discovering the collective power of
individual action and compassion.
Outreach Project Area Coordinators
Sarah Gillespie, Sophomore, Outreach Project Area Coordinator
Sarah Gillespie is a sophomore at Vandy from Mebane, NC. Sarah is majoring in Human and Organizational Development
and Communication Studies. She is interested in traveling and sustainable community development, especially in Latin America.
Working on the Student Planning Committee for the 2006 C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference has opened Sarah's eyes to
ways she can make an international difference even within a local community.
Amber Herber, Freshman, Outreach Project Area Coordinator
Amber Herber is a Vanderbilt freshman from Richland, WA. While still trying to figure out her major, Amber has interests
in Human and Organizational Development and International Relations. Amber has a strong passion for service involving a year
of AmeriCorps *NCCC after high school. She has continued this passion in college by participating in Alpha Phi Omega
and the C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference. Amber hopes to learn new and different ways to continue her commitment
to service through the conference.
Programming Project Area Coordinators
Monica Brown, Senior, Programming Project Area Coordinator
Monica Brown is a Senior at Middle Tennessee State University from Memphis,
TN. Monica is majoring in Psychology with minors in Photography and Recording
Industry Management. For the past couple of years, she has been very involved
with environmental and social justice activism. After graduating in May, she
hopes to continue working as a grassroots organizer and activist photographer.
As a result of the C.O.O.L Idealist National Conference, this summer, she plans to
document and work with communities in Southern Appalachia who are affected by the devasting practice of mountain top removal.
Leah Morgan, Vanderbilt University , Junior
Leah Morgan is a junior at Vanderbilt from Duluth, GA. She is majoring in Human and Organizational Development (with a
focus on Community Leadership and Development) with a minor in Managerial Studies. She became interested in Corporate
Social Responsibility at the 2005 C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference and is continuing to learn more about it
and teach others in the process.
Social & Events Project Area Coordinator
Erin Leggett, Vanderbilt University, Junior
Erin Leggett is a junior at Vanderbilt from Pensacola, FL. Erin is (very randomly, she might add) majoring in Philosophy and
minoring in Portuguese, even though she doesn't intend to attend to pursue either as a career. She ultimately plans on
working in South America doing community development, though she is currently planning to open a small, independent publishing
company with a friend after graduation, if all goes well.
Student Planning Committee Members
Vanderbilt University
Amy Atkinson, Senior
Amy Atkinson is a Senior at Vanderbilt University from San Diego, CA. Amy is majoring in
mathematics and secondary education to pursue her interest in teaching. Her
issues of interest include homelessness, human rights, and third world
countries and she would like to volunteer teach in South America sometime soon. She
is looking forward to becoming more connected with her concerns as a result of
the C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference this year.
Elizabeth Bennett, Sophomore
Elizabeth Bennett is a sophomore at Vanderbilt University from Franklin, TN.
She is double majoring in Human and Organizational Development (with an
emphasis on Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness) and Economics and is very interested in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its role in the
future of business. As a result of working on the 2006 C.O.O.L. Idealist
National Conference, she has made invaluable connections with other students
interested in CSR and has renewed her committment to 'doing well [in business]
while doing good [in the community].'
Jessie Foster, Junior
Jessie Foster is an undergraduate student in her third year at Vanderbilt
University. She is originally from Oak Ridge, Tennessee and loves living in
Nashville. Jessie is pursuing a double major in Human and Organizational
Development and Child Studies. She is also involved in Alternative Spring Break,
Alpha Delta Pi, and she tutors middle school students weekly at the Bridge
Program on campus. She is very interested in the nonprofit sector, and this
passion carries over into her enthusiasm for the C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference.
Jennifer McCaleb, Senior
Jennifer McCaleb will be graduating this May from Vanderbilt with a major in Human and Organizational Development
in the International Leadership and Development Track. She is moving to New York City to work in human resources at an
investment bank, hoping to gain exposure and skills related to international business. Eventually she plans to transfer
her earnings and experience to the nonprofit or CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) arena and is looking forward to
learning from organizations and participants at the C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference.
Kristen McNutt, Freshman
Kristen McNutt, a freshmen at Vanderbilt from Akron, NY, is double majoring in
Economics and Human and Organizational Development. As a member of the
Programming Committee for the C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference, she has
learned more about Corporate Social Responsibility and is committed to
furthering her knowledge about combining economic philosophy and CSR and
ultimately sharing this knowledge with others to emphasize how corporations
can and should be vehicles of social change.
Julie Miller, Sophomore
Julie Miller, originally from Texarkana, TX, is a sophomore at Vanderbilt
University majoring in Public Policy Studies. Cognizant of the vital role
policy makers play in today's society, Julie is dedicated to restoring public
trust in governmental policy making. Pursuant of becoming an instrument of
change on her campus, in her nation, and in her world, Julie is honored to
collaborate with students who share that dream, and is confident that fires
sparked here will burn brightly and ignite change beyond this place.
Brittany Perkins, Sophomore
Brittany Perkins is a Sophomore at Vandy from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Brittany
is majoring in Public Policy and Spanish and is very interested in issues of
International Policy, particularly that of America concerning areas of human
rights, aid in global events and crisis, educational systems in developing
nations, and national service. As a result of the C.O.O.L Idealist Naitonal Conference,
she is committed to working with the immigrant populations in Nashville,
particularly Latino and Kurdish students.
Natalia Sanchez, Sophomore
Natalia Sanchez, from Racine, WI, is a sophomore student at Vanderbilt University. Double majoring in biology and
Spanish with a minor in Medicine, Health, and Society, Natalia is pre-dental and planning to enter graduate school in 2008.
Natalia is very interested in social issues ranging from women, children, and health to Latinos and education.
One day she hopes to be able to provide pro bono orthodontic services to the hispanic community at large.
Anna Simon, Freshman
Anna Simon is from Davidson, NC. She is a freshman at Vanderbilt
University and is majoring in Human and Organizational Development. She is
most passionate about working with orphaned children and youth. As a result of
her work with this conference, she has committed to reducing the amount of non-recyclable products that she uses.
Dawn Sun, Junior
A native of where the tumbleweeds dominate,she hails from Albuquerque, NM and is currently attending Vanderbilt
as a junior. Dawn is double majoring in Human and Organizational Development (International Leadership and Development)
and East Asian Studies. She enjoys filmmaking, costume designing, singing, and long walks on the beach.
But most importantly she loves advocating for the Asian Pacific American (APA) community and is currently giving them a
voice as a National Executive Board member on the National Asian American Student Conference (NAASCon). As a result of the
C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference, Dawn is interesting in continuing into international law/relations and providing a
voice for individuals of Asian descent.
Renata Yurikov, Junior
Renata Yurikov is a junior at Vanderbilt University from Omaha, NE.
Renata is majoring in Political Science and minoring in History with a
concentration in European Studies. Renata is very interested in international
law, social movements, and social reform. As a result of the C.O.O.L. Idealist National
Conference, Renata is committing to working with individuals who are unable to
afford legal assistance.
Tusculum College
Greg Shivers, Senior, Oxfam Hunger Banquet Coordinator
Greg Shivers is from Sebastian, FL. He is a senior at Tusculum College and
majoring in Psychology with a minor in Religious Studies. He is most
passionate about global hunger and social issues around the globe. As a
result of his work with the conference, he is committed to helping other
college students change the world by becoming student activists.
Middle Tennessee State University
Brook Mallman, Graduate Student
Brook Mallman is a graduate student at Middle Tennessee State University from Franklin, Tennessee. Brook is working
toward a Master of Science degree in Accounting and Information Systems and is very interested in corporate social and
governmental responsibility. As a result of working on the 2006 C.O.O.L Idealist National Conference, she is more committed
than ever to increasing awareness about corporate social and governmental responsibility and to increasing student
participation in surrounding communities.
Devon McDonel, Senior
Devon McDonel is a senior at Middle Tennessee State University pursuing a
degree in Mass Communications as well as a minor in Leadership Studies. She
has worked for the past eight years in the fields of youth drug prevention
as well as youth activism. Devon hopes to attend graduate school to learn
how to be an effective part of a nonprofit organization.
Leah Peek, Senior
Leah Peek, 24, is a senior at Middle Tennessee State University majoring in Organizational Communications.
Having traveled overseas, she has experienced the needs there and hopes to one day be a part of or own a nonprofit
organization that works directly with refugees from persecuted areas. She's excited to learn more about the nonprofit
world at the C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference.
Nic Wehmeyer, Senior
Nic Wehmeyer is a senior at Middle Tennessee State University where he is studying Advertising and plans to
graduate in August. After graduation, Nic is headed to New York City to pursue a job in Advertising. Nic has a passion for
community service and loves helping others. After the C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference, he is committed to offer
his advertising services to local nonprofit organizations.
Belmont University
Amr Ali, Junior
Amr Ali is a junior at Belmont University. He is majoring in Political Science and minoring in Business Administration.
He hopes to go to law school to study International Law. He wants to work with third world development, United States - Middle East
relations, and help develop international institutions to halt the exploitation of third world countries. He is from Sudan and
hopes to live in Cairo, Egypt when he is older.
Christy Frink, Sophomore
Christy Frink is a sophomore at Belmont University, majoring in Social Work with a minor in Journalism. She hopes to
stay in Nashville after graduation and work in refugee resettlement or urban youth outreach. Currently, she volunteers with
Rocketown, Oxfam, and the HERO Program for Families in Transition, and looks forward to encountering more opportunities while
helping out with the C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference planning. She also drinks enough coffee for all of us combined.
Mary Hulse, Alumni
Mary Hulse graduated from Belmont University in May of 2005 with a BBA concentrating on the music business industry.
Recently she has become more concerned with the AIDS crises, specifically in Africa. Currently she works with the ONE Campaign
on a local basis and hopes to visit Africa one day.
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