A Vanderbilt University alumna who helped redesign key alumni initiatives, including ones that reach out to current students, and a graduating senior who has served in numerous leadership roles are the newest members of the Vanderbilt Board of Trust.
During its May 16 meeting, the board elected Karen Thomas Fesmire, outgoing president of the Vanderbilt Alumni Association, and Elizabeth Bennett, the 2008 Young Alumni Trustee, to four-year terms.
Fesmire, a resident of Germantown, Tenn., is a longtime community volunteer who has been a trained facilitator and program coordinator for Parent to Parent, a program that helps parents be better caregivers and role models for their children. Fesmire has served in this role for several Memphis schools and Germantown Presbyterian Church, where she is also an ordained deacon and elder. She teaches adult, youth and children’s education and directs the basketball program for children and youth at her church.
LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center has benefited through her work as chairman of the Festival of Trees. During that time, she was a Commercial Appeal Point of Light volunteer. She also was a national officer for Kappa Delta Sorority for 10 years. Fesmire graduated from Vanderbilt in 1980 with a B.S. in business administration. She was an active student leader, serving as chairman of Student Orientation and Panhellenic Rush. Her husband, Dr. William M. Fesmire, is also a member of the Class of 1980, and their daughter, Maggie Fesmire, will be a senior at Vanderbilt in the fall.
Bennett, of Franklin, Tenn., graduated with a double major in human and organizational development and economics. In addition, she was a top 10 finalist for Vanderbilt’s Most Outstanding Senior award. Bennett was co-founder and president of Net Impact, which strives to make a positive impact on society by building a community of new leaders who use business to improve the world.
She served in two officer positions with her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi, and was a member of Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity. She was a VUceptor for the past three years and participant in Alternative Spring Break. She has been a student leader in Every Nation Campus Ministries. Bennett is a member of Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Epsilon, Omicron Delta Kappa and Order of Omega honor societies.
Bennett volunteers in her free time for the Nashville Ronald McDonald House and Youth Encouragement Services. She was nominated by the Vanderbilt Alumni Association to be the 2008 Young Alumni Trustee after winning an online vote by students in the classes of 2007 through 2009.
Media Contact: Ann Marie Deer Owens, (615) 322-NEWS
annmarie.owens@vanderbilt.edu