4 things you need to know:
- General (Ret.) Paul M. Nakasone, retired U.S. Army four-star general and founding director of Vanderbilt’s Institute for National Security, emphasized resilience, leadership and lifelong learning in his keynote address.
- Chancellor Daniel Diermeier shared strategies for leading through challenges while balancing optimism.
- The Live. Learn. Lead. Academy, inspired by the successful 2024 Live. Learn. Lead. Symposium, immerses students in leadership training, mentorship and real-world experiences.
- Applications for the 2025–26 Live. Learn. Lead. Academy are open through March 31, 2025, for rising sophomores, juniors and seniors.
The murmur of conversation quieted as General Paul M. Nakasone stepped to the front of the room—not behind a podium, but among the attendees. He didn’t stay in one spot for long. Instead, he moved through the space, making eye contact, drawing the audience into a conversation about resilience, leadership and lifelong learning.
“Lead myself? Yes. Lead yourself,” Nakasone said, his voice steady but insistent. “There’s a degree of self-discipline that you bring to what you do every single day, a degree of attention to detail. There’s a degree of devotion that underpins what you do in leadership, and it all begins with you.”
A retired U.S. Army four-star general, former Director of the National Security Agency, and former Commander of U.S. Cyber Command, Nakasone brought decades of experience in high-pressure decision-making to the 2025 Live. Learn. Lead. Symposium. Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education Tiffiny Tung introduced him, highlighting his role as the founding director of Vanderbilt’s Institute for National Security and his expertise in leading through uncertainty. Addressing an audience of approximately 100 students and faculty at the Carmichael College Conference Center on Feb. 28, he underscored how adaptability, emotional intelligence and a commitment to learning are essential for leaders at any level.
Chancellor Daniel Diermeier also shared insights on navigating challenges and staying grounded in core values.
“What I’ve realized, especially during Covid and some of the other challenges I’ve faced, is that you need to go back to who you are, to your core values and your purpose. Reassure people that this is what we’re all about. This will be our North Star, our compass, and every decision we’re going to make will be driven by these values. Because that’s what we all have in common and what we’re all committed to.”
Following his keynote, Nakasone joined Live. Learn. Lead. Academy member Emma Mann for a fireside chat on leadership. Her thoughtful questions prompted reflections on his military career and his role as founding director of the Institute of National Security. Attendees leaned in as he recounted pivotal moments from his career, offering both wisdom and humor. The symposium continued with two interactive panels on mentorship and resilience. Moderated by Dr. Erin Calipari, director of the Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research and associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology, and Dr. Traci R. Ray, associate dean of students for student engagement and leadership, the panels explored strategies for navigating challenges and fostering collaboration. Mann reflected on how the Academy has broadened her understanding of community engagement.
“This academy has reinforced the importance of being an active and engaged member of the communities I am a part of and has allowed me to grow my community far beyond what I imagined it could be,” Mann said.
From Symposium to Academy
Supported by a Vanderbilt University Sesquicentennial Grant, the first Live. Learn. Lead. Symposium launched last spring under the leadership of Assistant Provost for Academic Support and Community Engagement Jill Stratton. Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs Candice Lee and Vice Admiral Nora Tyson ’79 have since played key roles in supporting the symposium as a cornerstone leadership initiative. Building on this momentum, the Live. Learn. Lead. Academy was created to immerse students in leadership across Vanderbilt and the Nashville community. According to Stratton, “The Live. Learn. Lead. Symposium and Academy are vital for developing the next generation of leaders at Vanderbilt. By immersing students in real-world experiences and mentorship, we’re cultivating the knowledge, skills and connections they need to thrive as leaders both on campus and beyond.”
Applications for the 2025–26 Live. Lead. Learn Academy are open through March 31, 2025. Vanderbilt undergraduates who are rising sophomores, juniors or seniors are eligible to apply. Learn more and apply here.
