The second annual Excellence in Corporate Collaboration Luncheon on May 22 brought together members of the Vanderbilt community at Alumni Hall to celebrate a shared commitment to partnership and innovation between Vanderbilt University and its corporate partners. More than 60 attendees recognized the outstanding achievements of colleagues who have exemplified the power of radical collaboration.
“This luncheon recognizes those who have worked tirelessly with the VU Corporate Partnerships team,” said Matt Seaton, director of corporate partnerships, during his welcoming remarks emphasizing the importance of collegiality across campus. “Their efforts to forge impactful connections led to significant positive outcomes for our students, faculty and the broader community.”
Seaton highlighted the achievements of the Corporate Partnerships office, launched in January 2023, which has quickly nurtured relationships and advanced corporate engagement strategies. “Today is about recognizing the collaborative ethos at Vanderbilt and expressing our gratitude for your leadership and engagement in partnership with external companies,” he said.
The highlight of the luncheon was the announcement of the Excellence in Corporate Collaboration Awards, presented by Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships Bianca Townsend. Five exceptional teams and individuals were honored for their contributions and the impact of their efforts:
- Hayden McMordie for the development of the Procurement Dashboard, which has revolutionized how the Corporate Partnerships team can see and better manage strategic corporate engagement holistically.
- Professor Charreau Bell, Miguel Nunez, Nafizah Abney, Cassanora Lampley, ReChard Peel, Kaadia Montgomery and Sidney Marshall for their work on the Accelerate Your AI: VU-HBCU Un-Hackathon, promoting diversity in AI development and technical education.
- Ashley Brady, Mary Gray Lindstrom, Angela Zito and Professor Kathy Gould for their leadership of ASPIRE on the Road, an initiative designed to expose biomedical Ph.D. students to diverse career paths through industry visits.
- Professor Leonora Williamson for her collaboration with Bridgestone Americas on a Corporate Social Responsibility course, providing students with hands-on learning experiences tied to real-world business challenges.
- Professor and Dean Krish Roy for leading a successful Leadership Visit to Houston, which enhanced relationships with corporate partners, secured funding for the School of Engineering’s summer bridge program, and advanced exploration on potential research collaborations and industry affiliate programs.
The event reinforced the significance of radical collaboration, inspiring attendees to continue their vital work in building strong connections between academia and industry.
