Meet The Child and Family Center Staff
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Diane Neighbors, EdD
DirectorDiane earned her Masters' degree from UNC-G and her Doctorate from Vanderbilt. Throughout her 37-yearcareer in early childhood education, she has worked as a teacher, director, and state director of child care services. She’s a member of the Nashville and Tennessee Associations for the Education of Young Children and has served as President of both. Diane is Vice Mayor and is on various boards including the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. Diane, and husband, Steve, are the parents of a son, Josh.
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Mary Beth Adgent
Manager, Belcourt CenterMary Beth attended UT and Peabody. She worked at Children’s House of Nashville Montessori School for 17 years. She has been at the Vanderbilt Child and Family Center since November, 1991. Mary Beth loves working with and getting to know the families of VC&FC. She is married and has two daughters.
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Jennifer Smithson
Manager, Patterson CenterJennifer earned her Master's in Education in 2007 after receiving her B.S. Degree in Elementary Education from MTSU. She started working with children in 1994 and has experience as an Assistant Director of a child care center. She joined Vanderbilt in 2002. Since that time she has worked with children ranging from infants to school-age. Jennifer takes pleasure in seeing the children’s faces light up when they accomplish a goal or learn something new. Jennifer has a daughter named Jocelyn. She enjoys reading, sports, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family.
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Bonnie Kress
Administrative AssistantBonnie attended Glenville State College. She joined the Vanderbilt family in 2003 in the Environmental Health & Safety department before moving to the Child & Family Center in 2009. She previously worked at the IRS for many years and is quite used to interacting with various types of people and situations. She has one grown son. When Bonnie is given a choice she prefers to be outdoors and will walk in any weather. She is a firm believer that exercise benefits the body and mind. She likes mysteries, old movies, music, and puzzles.
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Christine Aalderink
Early Childhood AssociateChriss has a B.S. in Business Administration. She has had training in CPR, First Aid, Child Abuse Prevention, and Lifeguarding. She has past experience working with young children as a Kids Gym Instructor, Fun Company staff at elementary schools, Y-Play leader, religious educator, and Girl Scout Troop co-leader. She really enjoys assisting in educating the children and brightening their days. Chriss has a husband, three daughters, five grandsons, and a dog. She likes to exercise and play tennis and piano.
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Rhonda Laird
Manager, Edgehill CenterRhonda earned a Bachelor's Degree from Michigan State University and a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Vanderbilt University. She serves on several boards and committees advocating the needs of young children. Rhonda has worked at the Child and Family Center since 1990, and enjoys Vanderbilt and all it has to offer. She finds working with the families of the Vanderbilt Child and Family Center rewarding. Rhonda says, “Knowing that our families trust us to care for and educate their children while they go to work is at the core of what we do each day.”
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Jesse Hoover-Dempsey Duprel
Manager, 18th Avenue CenterJesse graduated with a BS in Psychology from the University of Georgia in 2002. She completed coursework for a Master’s in Elementary Education at Tennessee State University in 2006. She’s a member of the Phi Kappa Phi National Honors Society. She’s worked at Vanderbilt Child & Family Center since January 2003. She taught in a preschool classroom at the Edgehill site until July 2008, when she became Site Manager for the 18th Avenue site. She enjoys and appreciates the opportunity to provide service and support to a large and diverse population of Vanderbilt’s families.
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Elaine Gallagher
Administrative AssistantElaine attended Middle Tennessee State University. She joined Vanderbilt as an Administrative Assistant in July, 2007. She has had experience working as an AA since 1985. Elaine has been taking care of and babysitting for her nieces, nephews, and godchild since 1982. Before that, she had babysat for neighbors, friends, and co-workers. She says that talking to the children and listening to the outrageous things they say keeps her laughing all year. In her spare time she likes to read, bake, and travel.
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Jamie Teasley
Administrative AssistantJamie holds a Bachelor's in English. She was a volunteer daycare worker as part of a class in college. She has worked with children of all ages in church activities. She enjoys watching children’s faces light up when they learn new things, hearing laughter on the playground, and listening to the funny things the children say. She has been at Vanderbilt since 1995. Jamie is the mother of a 19-year-old. She is an art lover who is also passionate about good music, and she is a sports fan.
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Carla Avery
Early Childhood AssociateCarla received her CDA in 1998 and her TECTA certificate in 2006. She has been working with children since 1992 beginning with babysitting her nephew and then working in child care centers. She has worked with ages six weeks to 12 years in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas. She currently is enjoying working in the infant room. Her favorite parts of working with young children are watching them grow and learn, adjusting to new and fun environments, and meeting new families and becoming a part of their lives. Carla enjoys shopping, cooking, and traveling in her free time.