Vanderbilt Posse Alum Pursues Law after Culminating College Rowing Career
When Naia Charland graduated from Vanderbilt University in May 2026, she crossed more than one finish line. After four years as a varsity rower and earning a degree in law, history and society with minors in legal studies and African American and diaspora studies, she is now setting her sights on law school and a career in advocacy.
Naia plans to spend the next year gaining professional experience while preparing for the LSAT before applying to law school.
Her collegiate rowing career ended with an impressive list of accomplishments. A member of the Vanderbilt Rowing varsity team for all four years, Naia finished her 10th year in the sport as one of the program’s most experienced athletes. Along the way, she earned multiple medals at one of the world’s most prestigious fall rowing regattas, won a national championship, set personal records, and built lifelong friendships and mentorships.
Rowing entered Naia’s life in middle school after an injury forced her to step away from competitive swimming. At her mother’s suggestion, she joined Learn to Row Camp through Row New York, a nonprofit that introduces the sport to young people from underserved communities across New York City. She quickly fell in love with rowing, and it was Row New York that ultimately nominated her for the Posse Scholarship.
Reflecting on that experience, Naia says, "It was my first real experience of what it means to be part of something bigger than yourself. Row New York helped shape me into the person I am today.” While at Vanderbilt, Naia discovered a passion for the legal profession through a 2025 internship with Brooklyn Defenders. Although the work could be demanding, she found inspiration in watching attorneys build meaningful relationships with the people they represented. The experience gave her hands-on exposure to case preparation, including reviewing discovery materials, creating transcripts, and analyzing video evidence.
"The work was rigorous and detail-oriented," she says, "and it reminded me of the focus and discipline I’ve had to bring to rowing—the idea that the work you put in behind the scenes is what determines what happens when it counts."
The internship confirmed her interest in law and advocacy, and she is now exploring several possible career paths. One area that particularly excites her is sports law, where she hopes to combine her love of athletics with her commitment to helping others.
"Sport is such a unifying ground, something I find so incredibly powerful," Naia says. "I would love to be able to marry those interests in my future career."
Whether she’s competing on the water or preparing for a career in the courtroom, Naia continues to demonstrate the dedication, resilience, and leadership that have defined her journey as a Posse Scholar.
