The Vanderbilt Alumni Association Board of Directors has announced the 2024 recipients of its annual alumni awards. The honorees will be celebrated during Reunion and Homecoming Weekend Nov. 7–10.
Robert D. Hatcher Jr., BA’61, MS’62, is the 2024 recipient of the Alumni Professional Achievement Award, recognizing Vanderbilt alumni who have distinguished themselves through professional accomplishments and whose contributions honor the legacy of excellence at Vanderbilt University.
A distinguished scientist and professor at the University of Tennessee, Hatcher is a leading expert on the formation of the Appalachian Mountains and the geology of Tennessee. He introduced the concept of plate tectonics to explain the complex geology of the southern Appalachians. Hatcher then expanded his work into Canada and northern Europe to explore the evolution of the mountain belt as it formed hundreds of millions of years ago. In the past two decades, he broadened his work to study all facets of geology in the south central United States and has contributed greatly to the understanding of the region’s resources and natural hazards.
Charles Stanley, BS’09, has been selected to receive the Early Career Professional Achievement Award. The award recognizes alumni, ages 40 and younger, for their significant record of career achievement and promise for professional success.
Stanley, an educational leader, became the founding principal of Smilow Collegiate Charter School in Jackson, Mississippi—the first elementary charter school in the state—in 2017 and served as principal until 2021. He currently is head of school for KIPP New Jersey and is an educational consultant specializing in K-12 instruction support.
Naomi Tutu, MDiv’16, has been honored with the Service and Community Leadership Award, which recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves through service to their community, country or society.
A lauded advocate, educator, priest and speaker, Tutu began sharing her life story publicly as a student at Berea College in the 1970s. She was frequently invited by community groups to speak about her experiences growing up during years of apartheid in South Africa. Building on decades of advocacy through speaking and engagement, Tutu established Nozizwe Consulting to bring together groups to learn from and celebrate differences and acknowledge shared humanity. Her consulting work includes educational trips to South Africa for community and social groups and leading group workshops that deal with conflict.
This year’s Vanderbilt Way Award honors board members of the Association of Vanderbilt Black Alumni—Myria Carpenter, BS’97; Chiedza Chauruka, BE’18; Bethany Copperidge, BA’09; Danielle Lewis, MEd’18; Doug Murrell, BS’95; Chris Nickson, BS’08; and Rodney Williams, BS’01, MEd’02—as the organization celebrates its 40th anniversary and its history of pioneering programs and initiatives. The award recognizes alumni for outstanding recent volunteer service to Vanderbilt schools, alumni groups and other university areas. The Vanderbilt Way embodies the university’s motto, Crescere aude, Latin for “dare to grow”—always growing together to fulfill our highest potential, in service to society and our vibrant global Vanderbilt community.