Meet John Gaines, Director of OUA
My hometown is Owensboro, KY.
I am the admissions counselor responsible for “the islands”: Manhattan, Hawaii, and England (really, all of Europe).
In the office I am the Director of Admissions; I work with all the other admissions officers on their tasks, and oversee the recruitment, evaluation and selection of students for Vanderbilt’s four undergraduate schools.
On a Saturday you’re most likely to find me at one of my kids’ activities –a play, a lacrosse game, a cheerleading competition, or running errands around town with my wife.
The best coffee shop here in town is FIDO in Hillsboro Village or Hot Spot Coffee in Franklin.
The airline I most frequently fly in/out of Nashville is Delta.
My favorite spot on campus is West Side Row.
The best dish at the Commons is Chicken Fingers (really – the best in Nashville!).
Hillsboro Pike is a hidden gem in Nashville. While not really hidden, the drive from Nashville to Franklin on Hillsboro Road – straight through some of the most beautiful and interesting countryside in America – is spectacular. I feel lucky that I get to go that way at least once a week!
While my work for Vanderbilt takes me literally all over the world, I love coming home to Nashville – the view I see when flying into BNA ( green fields, many lakes, and the iconic skyline) is one of the most beautiful airport approaches in the world. Then, once on the ground, the friendliness and laid-back attitude of the city is palpable. It’s a great place to live!
