May 2012 Vanderbilt View

The Ingram Commons’ first class graduates First-year students and faculty heads of house gathered at The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons in August 2008 for their first-ever class photo. The taking of a class photo each year has become an Ingram Commons tradition. (John Russell/Vanderbilt) On a bright spring day… Read More

Senior Nate Marshall’s passion for poetry helped him find his voice – and his calling Nate Marshall is all about the words. He started writing poetry in grammar school, and in the eighth grade, when a poem he wrote got him detention, Marshall realized two things: His words could have… Read More

Video of Senior Day with Tom Brokaw and of Commencement will be streamed live on the Vanderbilt homepage. Three days of activities enrich the Commencement experience For many graduating seniors, Commencement passes in a blur of gowns and camera flashes and choreography. Add emotional parents, excitement –… Read More

The Owen Graduate School of Management’s David Owens examines why some great innovations fail “Creative people must be stopped!”  We may not actually hear these words spoken aloud in the weekly staff meeting, but sometimes it feels like an underlying corporate message. In many work groups, innovative ideas are aggressively… Read More

Thousands of chairs line Alumni Lawn in anticipation of Commencement day. (Steve Green/Vanderbilt) The other day, my friend Kelly mentioned something about attending her son’s graduation before she and her family leave for summer vacation. I did a double take. Graduation? Our sons are the same age. They’re in… Read More

Abkowitz (Vanderbilt) Mark Abkowitz, professor of civil and environmental engineering, has received the Vanderbilt Alumni Association’s Alumni Education Award, given annually to a faculty member who has contributed significantly to Vanderbilt Alumni Association education programs. Bess (Vanderbilt) Kimberly Bess, assistant professor of human and organizational development, has received… Read More

Madison Sarratt (image courtesy of Vanderbilt University Special Collections & University Archives) Sarratt Student Center, undergoing its first major renovation in more than a decade, has been a hub of campus activity since it opened in 1974. Perhaps unknown to today’s students is the man for whom… Read More

Rocky Alvey (John Russell/Vanderbilt) Around the time Rocky Alvey turned 52, he decided he was going to write one song per week for a year. So he did. Mostly in his truck. Commuting usually isn’t the most rewarding part of anyone’s day, but Alvey’s journey between home and… Read More