Sarah, BS’98, and Andrew, BA’98, Wetenhall’s story began in a psychology lecture, the kind of ordinary moment that, in retrospect, turns out to be anything but.
The two met in Psychology 101 during their first year at Vanderbilt University, lived in the same dormitory on Peabody campus, and built a friendship that became a life. Decades later, they are proprietors of two of the most storied boutique hotels in the country—The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida, and Hedges Inn in East Hampton, New York—and among the most passionate advocates for Vanderbilt’s bold expansion into West Palm Beach.
A Foundation Built in Nashville
“Vanderbilt is so core to our identity and such a big part of the foundation that created us,” Sarah says. “It would be impossible not to support an institution that gave us so much of who we are today.”
The Wetenhalls remember their Vanderbilt years with genuine warmth, highlighting football games, concerts at Memorial Gymnasium and the easy rhythm of campus that spilled naturally into the life of Nashville. “The sense of community that Vanderbilt creates is so strong that it sticks with you,” Sarah says.
“Vanderbilt is so core to our identity and such a big part of the foundation that created us. It would be impossible not to support an institution that gave us so much of who we are today.”
After graduation, they both headed to New York. Sarah spent fifteen years working in PR and advertising within the fashion industry while Andrew built a career in investment banking. In 2016, the two made a surprising move by purchasing The Colony Hotel with no prior experience in hospitality. For the Wetenhalls, it was less a leap of faith than a bet on the foundation beneath them.
“We took the confidence and the education Vanderbilt gave us, and we dared to do something that perhaps others wouldn’t do,” Sarah says. “Not only was Vanderbilt foundational to who I am as an adult and as a career person, but it also gave me my family.”
Where Two Growth Stories Meet
When Andrew talks about South Florida today, he reaches for the same language he uses to describe Vanderbilt. “I would say that Vanderbilt today is the most dynamic university in the country,” he shares. “And West Palm Beach is the most dynamic region—both going through a period of extraordinary growth.”
The Wetenhalls have watched West Palm Beach transform firsthand, and they understand what it means for a community to attract the right institutions at the right moment. The depth is already there—arts, culture, finance, technology, leading corporate institutions—but something critical has been missing. “The missing piece,” Andrew asserts, “is a major academic institution.”
“We took the confidence and the education Vanderbilt gave us, and we dared to do something that perhaps others wouldn’t do.”
Sarah sees the fit just as clearly. “It’s largely a community of transplants—people are drawn here for different purposes and different reasons.” What unites them is what defines the West Palm Beach region itself. “You’ll find a warm welcome embrace and a depth and breadth of arts and intellect.”
She points to Nashville as the blueprint. “Vanderbilt fundamentally is a community-oriented organization,” she says. “The institution will immerse itself here the same way.”
For Andrew, the impact is enduring. “What Vanderbilt is bringing to West Palm Beach is the first nationally-ranked academic institution in this community. It will create a talent pipeline, depth in the employment market across industries and durability for decades to come.”
Sarah is equally enthusiastic. “The rapid growth and expansion happening in our community is absolutely extraordinary,” she says. “To have Vanderbilt, an academic institution of its caliber, coming to West Palm Beach is a dream come true.”
A Gift Rooted in Gratitude
The Wetenhalls have backed their conviction with action. They have hosted Dare to Grow campaign events at both The Colony Hotel and Hedges Inn, opening their doors and their networks to Vanderbilt’s expanding community. And they have made a meaningful financial gift to support the university’s West Palm Beach campus.
“What Vanderbilt is bringing to West Palm Beach is the first nationally-ranked academic institution in this community. It will create a talent pipeline, depth in the employment market across industries and durability for decades to come.”
For Sarah, the motivation is personal and straightforward. “Our gift to Vanderbilt is inspired by gratitude,” she reflects. “Gratitude for what Vanderbilt gave me, but also faith. Faith in what is to come, and a belief in what Vanderbilt can do when it enters a community.”
Andrew is equally direct. “Every chance we’ve had to support that opportunity coming to life has been something Sarah and I have been committed to doing.”
It’s a conviction rooted in experience. The Wetenhalls have lived their Dare to Grow story, and they know what’s possible when Vanderbilt arrives with its full force.
“Vanderbilt is nothing short of transformational,” Sarah says. “The momentum is full force—and now is the time for people to get involved to keep it going forward.”
—Lauren Ayers