Fellow Vanderbilt alumni:
It’s an honor to serve as Alumni Association Board president, especially during this time of tremendous momentum for our university. Through Vanderbilt’s remarkable progress in its ongoing historic Dare to Grow campaign, we are charting a collective course that connects great minds with opportunities to offer solutions to the world’s biggest challenges. Incredibly talented students, learning in the classrooms and labs with top faculty—and learning from each other with diverse perspectives—is key to how we all reach our full potential. We are stronger together, and that strength continues through your alumni journey as Vanderbilt for Life.
The momentum was energizing during Reunion and Homecoming Weekend 2023, attended by more than 4,000 alumni and guests! For me, the weekend provided opportunities to connect with friends I have made throughout my Vanderbilt experience, to recognize our phenomenal Alumni Award recipients, to strategize with our Alumni Association Board about ways to elevate our alumni engagement worldwide and to celebrate the values and qualities that make Vanderbilt unique. These merits include radical collaboration, a completely customizable education and the idea that learning and achieving can happen anywhere—not just in the classroom. The celebrating classes raised more than $48.6 million to support Vanderbilt for the Dare to Grow campaign.
Coming back to campus is always special, as is connecting with fellow Commodore alumni and parents in your home city. With more than 50 Chapters worldwide, we hope to see you soon for events where we network, learn, cheer on the ’Dores and more. Several cities across the country and around the world are also playing host to some exemplary Dare to Grow campaign events. Visit vu.edu/daretogrow to learn about these regional events and the three pathways for giving—Destination Vanderbilt, Discovery Vanderbilt and One Vanderbilt. I hope you’ll participate where you can and join me in giving back to Vanderbilt of your time, your expertise or your financial support to an area most meaningful to you.
Thank you for all you do to stay connected with our Vanderbilt community. Join me in being a reflection of Vanderbilt values as we move forward together.
—Todd Graham, BE’96
