At Vanderbilt, Demitrianna Grekos was preparing for a legal career at one of the best law schools in the country. Yet in one important sense, she felt distinctly underprepared.

“I had spent almost two years learning corporate law, but I did not understand a lot of the financial considerations that underpin the choices made by the entities at issue [in legal disputes], the courts, or the legislature,” says the South Florida native. “When I represent corporate clients, I want to truly understand their needs instead of merely applying the law to their actions. A master’s [degree] in finance seemed like the best way to see things from my future clients’ side and to allow me to communicate with them in their own language.”

Through a joint degree program at Vanderbilt, Demitrianna was able to pursue her MSF as she completed her legal studies. Just as she had hoped, the MSF equipped her for her new responsibilities after graduation as an associate of a Miami law firm. “I feel so much more confident speaking about finance,” she says. “Going to a law firm that is mostly older men, I feel much more comfortable joining in on these sorts of conversations.”

Along the way, Demitrianna enjoyed her experience, thanks to the culture both at Vanderbilt and in Nashville. “It sounds cheesy,” she says, “but I have made so many friends at Vanderbilt. It’s not cutthroat as at other schools, which makes it easy for us to foster a more collegial culture and make friends and business connections we can rely on in the future.

“Everyone is so nice—not just at Vanderbilt, but all over Nashville. I lived in Miami previously and had no idea that Southern hospitality was a real thing. It is–and it’s awesome.”

Fun Fact: Demitrianna loves to bake bread. She describes herself as a “stress baker.” During finals, she adds, she made multiple loaves.

A master’s [degree] in finance seemed like the best way to see things from my future clients’ side and to allow me to communicate with them in their own language.