Security Corner: Meet CSOs Rochelle Law-Wagener, Lakeith Washum
Community Service Officer Rochelle Law-Wagener joined USN part-time in 2020 and transitioned to full-time in 2021. CSO Lakeith Washum joined USN in 2016. CSOs provide safety and security-related functions, including perimeter and parking lot security, traffic direction, access control, and special event staffing.
By Lauren Max, Anna Garmezy, and Sarah Rubin, Parent Members of the Safety and Security Advisory Committee
Q: What is something people may not know about you?
Law-Wagener: When I am away from USN, I enjoy reading, cinema, cooking, and staying active with yoga and exercise. Before joining law enforcement, I had a fulfilling career as a photographer and photo editor.
Washum: I am passionate about empowering and training women with defensive concepts to utilize against various types of assault. I am a certified Rape Aggression Defense instructor and teach a comprehensive course for women that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance, and the basics of hands-on defense training.
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Q: Tell us about your training.
Law-Wagener: Equipped with rigorous, annual training provided by Vanderbilt University Public Safety, I obtained my license as an unarmed security guard in June 2019. Since then, I have collaborated with USN and VUPS to ensure safety protocols and proactively monitor campus activities, fostering a secure environment for all our students, faculty, and staff.
Washum: I started working with campus security for Vanderbilt University Public Safety in 2014. Prior to this, I worked with at-promise youth at the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center and served as a counselor for Group Effort with these students. I also worked as a machinist/trainer in the military defense industry. I have my B.S. in Criminal Justice.
Q: What do you love about your job?
Law-Wagener: My journey into this profession was inspired by the desire to combine my customer service skills with my passion for safety and security in school communities. My love of working with children stems from a genuine appreciation for the boundless creativity and potential in young minds. Witnessing the talents and ingenuity of students at USN constantly inspires me and reinforces my commitment to ensuring their safety.
Washum: What I love most about my job is ensuring the safety and security of all who need help. Doing this in a school setting is incredibly meaningful, and I view all USN students as part of my family.
Q: What is your favorite thing about USN?
Law-Wagener: My favorite elements at USN are the dynamic arts and theater program and the unwavering dedication of our creative, compassionate teachers.
Washum: I look forward to coming to work every day because I know USN has the greatest teachers, staff, parents, and students who take education seriously.
Law-Wagener: Equipped with rigorous, annual training provided by Vanderbilt University Public Safety, I obtained my license as an unarmed security guard in June 2019. Since then, I have collaborated with USN and VUPS to ensure safety protocols and proactively monitor campus activities, fostering a secure environment for all our students, faculty, and staff.
Washum: I started working with campus security for Vanderbilt University Public Safety in 2014. Prior to this, I worked with at-promise youth at the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center and served as a counselor for Group Effort with these students. I also worked as a machinist/trainer in the military defense industry. I have my B.S. in Criminal Justice.
Q: What do you love about your job?
Law-Wagener: My journey into this profession was inspired by the desire to combine my customer service skills with my passion for safety and security in school communities. My love of working with children stems from a genuine appreciation for the boundless creativity and potential in young minds. Witnessing the talents and ingenuity of students at USN constantly inspires me and reinforces my commitment to ensuring their safety.
Washum: What I love most about my job is ensuring the safety and security of all who need help. Doing this in a school setting is incredibly meaningful, and I view all USN students as part of my family.
Q: What is your favorite thing about USN?
Law-Wagener: My favorite elements at USN are the dynamic arts and theater program and the unwavering dedication of our creative, compassionate teachers.
Washum: I look forward to coming to work every day because I know USN has the greatest teachers, staff, parents, and students who take education seriously.
Q: What is something people may not know about you?
Law-Wagener: When I am away from USN, I enjoy reading, cinema, cooking, and staying active with yoga and exercise. Before joining law enforcement, I had a fulfilling career as a photographer and photo editor.
Washum: I am passionate about empowering and training women with defensive concepts to utilize against various types of assault. I am a certified Rape Aggression Defense instructor and teach a comprehensive course for women that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance, and the basics of hands-on defense training.
Q: Tell us about your family.
Law-Wagener: I am happily married and the proud mother of a daughter pursuing her Ph.D. in Quantitative Methods at Vanderbilt. Our household would not be complete without our beloved cat, Luna, who thinks she is a lioness.
Washum: I am happily married with three daughters, and in July, I will be promoted to the position of very proud grandfather.
Law-Wagener: I am happily married and the proud mother of a daughter pursuing her Ph.D. in Quantitative Methods at Vanderbilt. Our household would not be complete without our beloved cat, Luna, who thinks she is a lioness.
Washum: I am happily married with three daughters, and in July, I will be promoted to the position of very proud grandfather.
School News
List of 3 news stories.
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USN Evening Classes offers mahjong for parents, Middle Schoolers
Students in grades 5-8 and their families can take USN Evening Class 702: Mah and Pah Jong and Me to learn to play a board game together while benefiting USN's need-based scholarship endowment.Read More -
Travel grant takes naturalist to Galápagos Islands
Read MoreThe Helen Meador Summer International Fellowship funded a summer of professional development in South America for Lower School Naturalist Carrie Riley. Through this profound experience, she said she plans to bring these lessons into her teaching, grounding her voice in wonder, joy, and a commitment to protecting the natural world, which she loves. -
Vissepó’s 'Fantastical Views' creates space to connect
The impact of USN’s Art Department is not confined to art studios in the Christine Slayden Tibbott Center. Students often engage with art in ways that transcend traditional classroom learning, such as at the opening reception for artist Yanira Vissepó's “Fantastical Views.”Read More
Athletics News
List of 3 news stories.
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HS athletics recaps for September 11-17
Tiger golfers have officially qualified for the region tournament, and our other teams are not far behind. Volleyball sits near the top of the district, finishing up regular season play next week with Senior Night. Girls soccer continues to hold first place in the district after another 9-0 win, and our cross country runners are chasing after some school records. To round it all out, our mountain bike team traveled to Oakfield to continue to improve on their times for the season. There’s plenty more where that came from- so be sure to come out to the River Campus, Sperling Gym, or out on the road to cheer on our Tigers before their seasons end.Read More -
MS athletics recaps for September 11-17
Middle School volleyball and tennis teams are nearing the final games of their seasons, with the competition heating up while the Tigers play to determine their HVAC rankings. Cross country was finally able to race at the River Campus despite the heat, and our mountain biking team traveled to Oakfield, Tennessee, for a high-temperature race weekend.Read More -
MTB Race #2 Report - Rockabilly Ridge Trails, Oakfield, TN
The MTB team returned to the the twisty trails of tranquil Oakfield, TN on Sept 13th to take part in the second race of the season, as part of the 5-race series hosted by the NICA/TICL League.Read More
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.