Parent and alumni leaders called to serve as ambassadors and connectors during 2025 Volunteer Leadership Weekend

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Mar 6, 2025, 11:45 AM

Nearly 150 parent and alumni leaders gathered on campus Feb. 28 and March 1 for Vanderbilt’s eighth annual Volunteer Leadership Weekend. The two-day event is an opportunity for the university to express deep appreciation for its most engaged leaders and to give them an insider’s look at Vanderbilt’s latest initiatives as they plan for the year ahead.

On Friday, attendees heard from Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and Board of Trust Chairman Bruce Evans, BE’81, during a lunchtime conversation in the Owen Graduate School of Management Great Room.

Diermeier gave an overview of the university’s current state and highlighted the two contrasting worlds he navigates—Vanderbilt’s world, which is thriving, and the world of higher education, which is facing significant challenges.

When asked how parents and alumni can support Vanderbilt when the value of higher education is being scrutinized, he said: “Be an ambassador and be a connector. Any time you have the opportunity, share the wonderful work that our faculty do and the impact they have on our students’ lives. Your support is absolutely essential.”

In reference to the importance of a research institution, Diermeier said we must “continue to instill confidence in the great work of the American university. It is noble work that has a transformative impact on the lives of our students.”

Evans also emphasized the crucial role alumni and parents play in telling Vanderbilt’s story: “One of the best things you can do is to spread the word about what a great place Vanderbilt is and how beneficial our system of higher ed is for our country.”

The Volunteer Leadership conference takes place featuring a conversation with university leadership

The Volunteer Leadership Kickoff Reception taking place at Conrad Hotel

Friday programming also included campus tours and a kickoff reception at Thistle & Rye in the Conrad Hotel. John Lutz, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations, gave opening remarks.

“We are very grateful for your leadership,” Lutz said. “Given how important it is to share our reputation, your ambassadorial work is more important than ever.”

Programming on Saturday included “Daring to Grow” sessions that focused on key initiatives at Vanderbilt:

Dialogue Vanderbilt: Faculty members John Koch and ML Sandoz were joined by current students and members of the civil discourse lab—Jason Vadnos, Class of 2027, and Imaad Muwahid, Class of 2026.

Growth Initiatives: Darren Reisberg, vice chancellor for administration, shared an inside look at Vanderbilt’s plans for an enhanced presence in New York City.

Vandy United: A conversation on impact in motion with Candice Storey Lee, vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletic director, and football head coach Clark Lea, moderated by special projects coordinator Andrew Maraniss, BA’92.

Opportunity Vanderbilt: Ann Marie McNamara, BA’64, and her daughter, Cathy Grier, BS’91, highlighted the impact of Opportunity Vanderbilt, which meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need without loans, providing students the ability to graduate debt-free and focus on their ambitions and personal growth.

Volunteer Leadership Weekend ended with a working lunch for the boards of each volunteer group to coordinate and plan for the coming year’s programs and initiatives. Attendee Tamara Baynham, BE’93, shared that the weekend serves as a chance for her to show up for students from marginalized communities, like women in STEM. “We are here to lift them up and maintain their vision of what they wanted to do when they came to Vanderbilt.”

For most attendees, the weekend holds sentimental value as they give back to the place that has supported them as students and beyond. “I volunteer because I attended Vanderbilt on a scholarship and had the best time when I was here,” said Jamie Kim, BS’00, MEd’06. “I’m now a college counselor and work with students who are interested in Vanderbilt. It’s great to see them grow here, develop into adults and find their passions.”

Attendees of the weekend events included representatives from many alumni and parent groups across the university, including the Alumni Association Board, AAPI Association of Vanderbilt Alumni, Association of Vanderbilt Black Alumni, Vanderbilt Chapter leaders, LBGTQIA+ Association of Vanderbilt Alumni, Parents Campaign Cabinet, Parents Leadership Committee, Parent Ambassador Council, Vanderbilt Association of Hispanic and Latinx Alumni, Reunion chairs and volunteers.

Vanderbilt University Dare to Grow event in the Student Life Center is part of the volunteer leadership weekend. All photos were taken on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Photo by Joe Howell Photos by Joe Howell

Vanderbilt University Dare to Grow event in the Student Life Center is part of the volunteer leadership weekend. Luncheon. All photos were taken on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Photo by Joe Howell Photos by Joe Howell