Giving Back Becomes a Family Affair
Jim Powers and Martha Wettemann have been a part of the University School of Nashville family since the early 1990s when daughter Meredith started eighth grade and son Alan fifth grade at USN.
“Our children were not challenged at our local school, and (Jim’s) patients, who were retired USN faculty, told me, ‘You’ll be very pleased with the lab school, referring to the original Peabody Demonstration School name,’” says Jim, a geriatrician at Vanderbilt.
Jim and Martha appreciated how engaged and passionate the teachers were, and their experience at USN has given their family years of friendship, personal development, and career preparation. Meredith ’97 is an insurance product manager, and Alan ’01 is a general surgeon. Both are married.
Jim and Martha have included USN in their will and also contribute to their own educational institutions. They’ve instilled the value of giving in their children; Meredith and Alan also contribute regularly to USN as alumni. Both generations feel it’s important to give back to benefit others.
Jim was instrumental in developing the geriatric program at Vanderbilt and is currently helping to develop a chair in geriatric education at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Martha received her PhD in public administration in 2019 and conducts economic research and data development for the Tennessee Department of Workforce Development.
You, too, can leave a legacy at USN that reflects your values, generous and compassionate nature, and helps students. Contact Anne Westfall at (615) 277-7495 or awestfall@usn.org to learn more.