Education

JD, Tulane Law School

MA, Drama Therapy, New York University

BA, Drama, Dartmouth College

Biography

Vanessa Rodriguez is a native of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Panama City, Panama. She joined SoPA in 2017 as Assistant Dean for Student Support and Success after serving as Director of Student Conduct for Tulane since 2015. During her tenure as Director, Vanessa lead the investigation and resolution of all student conduct concerns and spearheaded the revision of the Code of Student Conduct in 2017.

Prior to her service to the University, Vanessa received her BA from Dartmouth College and her MA from New York University. She then worked as a psychotherapist in New York City, providing individual and group counseling through a variety of non-profit organizations. In her work, she specialized in counseling clients who were HIV+, undocumented, LGBTQ+, homeless, and/or victims of trauma. After six years of practice, Vanessa moved home to the south and enrolled in Tulane Law School. There she was named a member of Tulane 34 and proceeded to work as a mediator for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the New Orleans Community-Police Mediation Program prior to becoming the chief law clerk for Judge Pro Tempore Lynn Luker in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court.

Vanessa lives in New Orleans with her husband and two children.
 
What are your favorite activities when you are not working?
Cooking and enjoying local theatre productions.
 
What is your favorite thing about SoPA?
The dedication of faculty, staff, and students.
 
What's the first career you dreamed of having as a child?
Ballerina/marine biologist.