JAY YOKLEY
1987-88 Traveling Fellow
International Trade Organizations
Jay’s project focused on the EU, GATT, EFTA, and ASEAN.
Hometown: Franklin, Tennessee
Majors: Modern European Studies and Business Administration
Jay is the Owner and Founder of Left Bank Travel, a travel agency for discerning travelers who are explorers at heart and have a craving to see the world.
After his Traveling Fellowship, Jay returned to Vanderbilt to study law. Eager to work internationally and to work on international transactions, he worked for two international law firms and an international bank following his graduation, then American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. He retired from practicing law in 2018 after 27 years of legal work. He has continued to travel extensively throughout his life.
At Vanderbilt, Jay was the Chairman of the IMPACT Speakers Symposium and involved in Delta Kappa Epsilon and Vanderbilt-in-France.
“The Traveling Fellowship gave me my first extended opportunity to explore different cultures and ways of life. The diversity of those opportunities changed my perspectives and opened my mind to an even broader spectrum of possibilities. Travel unites us and makes the world a better place. ”
— Jay Yokley
ITINERARY
Japan
South Korea
Taiwan
Hong Kong
China
Singapore
Malaysia
Thailand
India
Switzerland
Belgium
The Netherlands
France
Finland
Russia (USSR)
Greece
Germany
United Kingdom
IMPACT ON JAY’S LIFE AND CAREER
“My fellowship year had a tremendous impact on my professional career. After the fellowship, I returned to Vanderbilt to study law. Eager to work internationally and to work on international transactions, I landed in New York where I worked for two international law firms and an international bank. I developed a legal practice specialized in aircraft purchasing and finance which ultimately took me to Dallas to work at American Airlines and to Atlanta to work at Delta Air Lines. Throughout my legal career I had tremendous opportunities to travel (too many international business trips, but also a lot of travel for fun and exploration). I retired from practicing law in 2018 after 15 years at Delta and 27 years of legal work. I've continued to travel extensively and started my own luxury travel business earlier this year, so I'm still taking my Traveling Fellowship experience with me every day.”
