In a series on the Vanderbilt Instagram account, students can get to know some of the dedicated staff who play a crucial role in creating a welcoming and supportive environment for them. This installment features Ryan Lemons, welder and pipefitter for the power plant, who is with University Facilities.
Stay tuned for more Q&A sessions with staff members at Vanderbilt, whose daily efforts help shape positive experiences for the entire university community.
View the rest of the staff Q&A series.
Watch Ryan’s Q&A Session:
What is your typical day like?
Well, it varies. We have projects that we build for the plant, so we do that if we don’t have an emergency. There’s a handrail that’s broken over in Sarratt right now that we’ve got to fix. It’s random stuff daily—whatever breaks!
Are there really tunnels under Vanderbilt?
There’s a tunnel that goes to the Children’s Hospital, and it also goes to the Engineering and Science Building and the new Highland Plant. It’s about a mile long.
How do you handle emergency situations?
Take a breath! We do a lot of dangerous stuff, so you have to really know what you’re doing—the wrong thing, it could blow up, you can get hurt.
What is your favorite thing to do in Nashville?
The Game Terminal — it’s like an old gaming place. That kind of thing is fun to do when you get old like me.
