Meet the Staff
Allyson Sullivan, Executive Director of Business Operations
Allyson Sullivan served as the Director of Vanderbilt University Real Estate before she was appointed Executive Director of Business Operations in 2017 following a nationwide search. Sullivan is responsible for the oversight of the fiscal, administrative, and business that serves the institution-wide Facilities department. She oversees the Business Operations Center, a shared services unit that offers an enhanced focus on streamline and effective client interfaces while providing exceptional customer experiences and engagement. Since assuming her position, Sullivan has created a new Employee Engagement group, consolidated the staff supporting various Facilities systems and mapping services, established communications for Facilities, and implemented programs such as eBuilder and Lean. Sullivan earned her Bachelor of Science in Economics with a financial emphasis from Southern Methodist University and is a graduate of the Vanderbilt Leadership Academy class of 2015-2016.
Email: ally.sullivan@vanderbilt.edu
Phone: (615) 343-1049
Lori Ungrait, Executive Secretary
Lori Ungrait joined Vanderbilt University in 2015 as an assistant at the Law School. She worked in this position with tenured and adjunct faculty for three years before moving to her current position as Executive Secretary for the Facilities Department. Lori manages the calendars of Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Facilities Officer Mike Perez and his direct reports. Lori also assists with the capital project steering committees, Facilities Review Committee (FRC), and other Facilities monthly meetings.
Email: Lori.Ungrait@vanderbilt.edu
Phone: (615) 322-3959
Rachel Bork, Senior General Contract Analyst
Rachel Bork was hired at Vanderbilt University in 2017 as the Facilities Account Assistant IV, after working for a couple of years as a Facility Engineering Administrative Assistant at Kroger. Today Rachel is the Senior General Contracts Analyst for Facilities Business Operations. In her current position, Rach facilitates the execution of maintenance, construction, design and consulting contracts for the Facilities Department, and also, serves as the main liaison between the Facilities and Purchasing Services departments. Originally from the Chicago area, Rachel married her high school sweetheart and has the most adorable daughter. Rachel earned her degree from Olivet Nazarene University in 2013.
Email: Rachel.Bork@vanderbilt.edu
Phone: (615) 343-6956
Scott Eller, Employee Engagement Manager
Scott Eller started at Vanderbilt University as a Human Resources Representative II in Human Resources Express in 2012. After leaving the university for a little over a year to work as a Professional Recruiter at Aerotek, Scott returned to Vanderbilt as a Talent Acquisition Consultant in Human Resources and was quickly promoted to the Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant before assuming his current role as the Employee Engagement Manager for the Facilities Department. Human Resources is a family business as Scott’s dad worked in the HR industry for over 26 years, inspiring Scott to follow in his footsteps. Outside of the hallowed halls of Vanderbilt University, Scott enjoys being in the outdoors and loves to hunt and fish.
Scott earned his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Bethel University.
Email: scott.m.eller@vanderbilt.edu
Phone: (615) 343-0964
Shelby Pendowski, Communications Coordinator
Before assuming her role as the Communications Coordinator for the Facilities Department, Shelby Pendowski worked in a variety of roles in the media industry. Shelby worked for Gatehouse Media in Austin, TX designing and copy editing newspapers across the country and at WXMI FOX-17 in Grand Rapids, MI as an assignment editor, digital content producer and was instrumental in creating community-focused segments that reached millions of viewers. In her current roles, she oversees communication needs for Vanderbilt University’s Facilities Department. Since being hired, Shelby created and launched Twitter and Instagram accounts and new websites for the Facilities and Business Operations Department.
In her free time, Shelby enjoys hiking in beautiful Middle Tennessee with her dog Wednesday and spending time with her fiance, friends and family.
Shelby earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Grand Valley State University.
Email: shelby.pendowski@vanderbilt.edu
Phone: (615) 343-1049
Stacey Crowhurst, Director of Finance-Administration and Facilities Services
Stacey Crowhurst assumed the role of director of finance-administration, facilities services at Vanderbilt University in 2015. Prior to joining Vanderbilt, she served at Pepperdine University as associate director of finance and accounting for Planning, Operations, and Construction from 2011 until 2015 and accountant for Campus Planning & Construction from 2008 to 2011. In her current role, she is responsible for financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, and workflow improvements for Capital Planning & Construction and Plant Operations.
Previous roles include senior accountant for grants & sponsored programs with the Office of Business & Finance Services at the University of San Francisco and coordinator, grants and contract with Government Costing at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Stacey was awarded a bachelor of science degree from the University of Dayton in accounting and marketing (2003) while concurrently earning an MBA. Stacey is a registered certified public accountant in the state of Illinois.
Email: stacey.crowhurst@vanderbilt.edu
Phone: 615-875-9408
Tanish Newell, Senior Director of Systems
Tanish Newell assumed the position of [insert title] in the Facilities Department over a year ago after working in the Vanderbilt University IT network team for over 20 years. Tanish oversees the Facilities Business Operations Systems Department which includes System Information Services (SIS) and Facilities Information Services (FIS) and has been a key employee in the launch of the program eBuilder and AiM Ready. In her personal time, Tanish takes trips to Kentucky, where she and her husband dock a small sailing vessel. Tanish also enjoys reading science & technology books, podcasts and documentaries, hiking, and recreational cycling.
Tanish earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Tennessee Tech and a Master’s Degree from the University of Tennessee.
Email: tanish.newell@vanderbilt.edu
Phone: 615-343-6393