Megan Macon
Research Scholar and Director of Career Development and Apprenticeships, Next Steps at Vanderbilt
Staff - Extended
Overview of Interests
As a Research Scholar and the Director of Career Development and Apprenticeships for Next Steps at Vanderbilt, Megan leads all employment components of the university's inclusive higher education program. This includes managing a team of Research Program Coordinators and Graduate Assistants in designing and implementing the career development scope of programming (i.e., exploration, internships, and apprenticeships). Megan cultivates partnerships with stakeholders to develop innovative and research-based career development practices aimed at improving students' post-school outcomes. Megan began working with Next Steps in 2017 and has worked as a Job Coach, Program Coordinator of Career Development, and Co-Director of Career Development before stepping into the role of Director of Career Development in 2021. In 2024, Megan served as a key contributor to the team's Apprenticeship Building America-2 (ABA-2) grant submission, earning the program a $2.32M Department of Labor grant to expand registered apprenticeships embedded in inclusive higher education programs. She currently serves as a Co-Investigator on the ABA-2 grant and as an Investigator on the TN Believes Grant, awarded in 2025 from the TN Department of Disability and Aging.
Megan received her bachelor's degree in Special Education from Vanderbilt University in 2016. While a student at Vanderbilt, she served as a peer mentor Ambassa'Dore with Next Steps and as a member of the Best Buddies chapter, holding leadership roles with both. Megan is currently pursuing her master's in Interdisciplinary Secondary Transition Services from George Washington's Department of Special Education part-time. Megan is passionate about creating a more inclusive community and expanding employment opportunities for neurodiverse individuals through Next Steps at Vanderbilt's innovative career development initiatives.
Website
https://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/departments/nextsteps/