From Music Management to Mission-Driven Leadership: Derek Wallace ’14 Advances His Career at Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami
Sep 21, 2026
When Derek Wallace ’14 arrived at Florida Southern College, he knew he wanted to build a career in music. What he didn’t know then was that the lessons he learned as a music management student would eventually lead him to hold an impactful role in nonprofit leadership and fundraising.
Today, Wallace serves as Vice President of Development at Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami, where he leads fundraising efforts to ensure one-to-one mentoring remains accessible to young people and their families.
Originally from Bradenton, Florida, Wallace chose Florida Southern after a music audition experience that made the College feel like home. During his time on campus, he immersed himself in the music department while also taking on leadership roles. He served as president of Phi Mu Alpha, the campus music fraternity, as well as Vice President of national leadership honor society Omicron Delta Kappa. These experiences taught him how to manage teams, organize events and build authentic relationships.
Those leadership and relationship-building skills have become central to his work within Big Brothers Big Sisters. Wallace credits several Florida Southern professors with helping shape his professional path, including Dr. John Thomasson, who encouraged him to persevere and challenged him to expand his experiences beyond music. At Dr. Thomasson’s encouragement, Wallace took up golf during his senior year, a skill Wallace now puts to use when Big Brothers Big Sisters hosts its annual golf tournament.
Wallace’s professional journey officially began with an internship at the Kennedy Center and continued with his work supporting the growth of Nu Deco Ensemble in its early years in Miami. While his career initially centered on music, his passion for creating opportunities and supporting mission-driven work eventually led him to the nonprofit fundraising work he carries out today.
“I loved fundraising to make music accessible across our community and to support working artists, and I loved seeing music’s impact on young people just as much,” Wallace said. “Now, getting to work with the Littles at Big Brothers Big Sisters and help inspire the next generation of musicians and leaders brings me so much joy.”
At Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami, Wallace works with individual, corporate and foundation partners to secure the resources needed to connect young people with mentors. His role is centered on finding common ground between a donor’s passions and the organization’s mission.
Looking back, Wallace sees the connection between his Florida Southern experience and the career he has built.
“Invest in people, not just in your resume,” Wallace said. “The leadership roles, campus relationships and mentors that shaped me at Florida Southern weren’t things I could have listed as ‘skills’ at the time, but they’re exactly what I draw on now.”
His journey from music management student to nonprofit executive is a reminder that a career path does not always follow a straight line. The skills developed through leadership, mentorship and involvement can open doors in unexpected ways, and experiences that seem unrelated at the time may become the foundation for what comes next.
For current Florida Southern students, Wallace’s advice is simple: Get involved, ask questions, build relationships and never be afraid to branch out to find a cause worth fighting for.
Today, Wallace serves as Vice President of Development at Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami, where he leads fundraising efforts to ensure one-to-one mentoring remains accessible to young people and their families.
Originally from Bradenton, Florida, Wallace chose Florida Southern after a music audition experience that made the College feel like home. During his time on campus, he immersed himself in the music department while also taking on leadership roles. He served as president of Phi Mu Alpha, the campus music fraternity, as well as Vice President of national leadership honor society Omicron Delta Kappa. These experiences taught him how to manage teams, organize events and build authentic relationships.
Those leadership and relationship-building skills have become central to his work within Big Brothers Big Sisters. Wallace credits several Florida Southern professors with helping shape his professional path, including Dr. John Thomasson, who encouraged him to persevere and challenged him to expand his experiences beyond music. At Dr. Thomasson’s encouragement, Wallace took up golf during his senior year, a skill Wallace now puts to use when Big Brothers Big Sisters hosts its annual golf tournament.
Wallace’s professional journey officially began with an internship at the Kennedy Center and continued with his work supporting the growth of Nu Deco Ensemble in its early years in Miami. While his career initially centered on music, his passion for creating opportunities and supporting mission-driven work eventually led him to the nonprofit fundraising work he carries out today.
“I loved fundraising to make music accessible across our community and to support working artists, and I loved seeing music’s impact on young people just as much,” Wallace said. “Now, getting to work with the Littles at Big Brothers Big Sisters and help inspire the next generation of musicians and leaders brings me so much joy.”
At Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami, Wallace works with individual, corporate and foundation partners to secure the resources needed to connect young people with mentors. His role is centered on finding common ground between a donor’s passions and the organization’s mission.
Looking back, Wallace sees the connection between his Florida Southern experience and the career he has built.
“Invest in people, not just in your resume,” Wallace said. “The leadership roles, campus relationships and mentors that shaped me at Florida Southern weren’t things I could have listed as ‘skills’ at the time, but they’re exactly what I draw on now.”
His journey from music management student to nonprofit executive is a reminder that a career path does not always follow a straight line. The skills developed through leadership, mentorship and involvement can open doors in unexpected ways, and experiences that seem unrelated at the time may become the foundation for what comes next.
For current Florida Southern students, Wallace’s advice is simple: Get involved, ask questions, build relationships and never be afraid to branch out to find a cause worth fighting for.