Two seniors in the College of Arts and Science have been named 2026-2027 recipients of the Wattles Fellowship. The fellowship offers three women graduates from Vanderbilt University a one-year, fully integrated position in the London corporate risk management and insurance market.
Meet the college’s two Wattles Fellows and learn about their plans for the future, as well as how their A&S experience will support those goals.
Emma Davis
Major: Economics and History
What are your plans for the future?
After graduating from Vanderbilt, I will be working with Gallagher at Lloyd’s of London during my Wattles Fellowship year. I am excited to begin my career in a global financial and insurance market while living and working abroad. Long term, I hope to continue building a career that combines analytical thinking, a global perspective, and intellectual curiosity.
How will this fellowship and your A&S education support your goals?
While I am excited to move into the professional world, I am also genuinely sad to leave behind formal classroom education. The College of Arts and Science has fostered an environment where intellectual curiosity is not only encouraged but sustained. My professors consistently challenged me to stretch my thinking, question preconceived beliefs, and deeply engage with ideas across disciplines. Because of this foundation, I feel prepared to carry that same curiosity beyond the classroom and into experiential learning. The Wattles Fellowship allows me to do exactly that. Together, the fellowship and my liberal arts training equip me to approach unfamiliar challenges thoughtfully, embrace uncertainty, and continue learning in meaningful ways.
BeJay Mugo
Major: History and Medicine, Health, and Society
What are your plans for the future?
In the future, I plan to attend law school and pursue a career at the intersection of law, public policy, and health equity. I am particularly interested in how legal and policy decisions affect access to healthcare and other essential services.
How will this fellowship and your A&S education support your goals?
Being a student at Vanderbilt has been one of the most meaningful educational experiences of my life. Through my coursework, I have gained a strong interdisciplinary foundation that has shaped how I understand the world and approach complex social problems; it has pushed me to ask more thoughtful questions, consider multiple perspectives, and think critically about the systems that shape people’s lives. Along the way, my professors have provided invaluable mentorship and encouraged me to pursue my interests with confidence. I am particularly grateful to Assistant Professor of Medicine, Health, and Society Panka Bencsik, who has been a consistent pillar of support throughout my time at Vanderbilt. Her guidance and encouragement have been instrumental in helping me clarify my professional goals, and her support of my Wattles Fellowship application meant a great deal to me.
Receiving the Wattles Fellowship is a great honor, and I see it as a pivotal step in my journey to law school. The client-facing and contract-based work involved in risk management will provide a strong foundation for a future career in the legal field. I am also excited for the opportunity to live in London, get to know the city, and continue learning both professionally and personally.
Meet Jenna Ravarino, a Peabody student who also received the Wattles Fellowship.