Year: 2025

Three Vanderbilt faculty members are diving into a "chicken-and-egg" problem of type 2 diabetes: Does the disease change beta-cell subtypes? Or do changes in the cells cause diabetes? Guoqiang Gu, Emily Hodges and Ken Lau have come up with a new method of studying the subtypes that can track them through different stages instead of just once when they're fully developed. "Thanks to this and other research, it may be possible to one day create a diet supplement for pregnancy that could reduce the risk of diabetes for babies," Gu said. Read More

The Vanderbilt Center for Sustainability, Energy and Climate has a new director—Hussam Mahmoud. Mahmoud, professor of civil and environmental engineering, joins Vanderbilt from Colorado State. VSEC's mission is to investigate energy, infrastructure, climate and systems to address the grand social and scientific challenges to ensuring a sustainable planet. The center was established in 2024 as a part of Discovery Vanderbilt; Associate Professor Hiba Baroud was the inaugural and interim director. Read More

Printer’s Fist, by Melissa Range, has been selected as the 2025 winner of the Vanderbilt University Literary Prize. The prize competition received more than 250 submissions. Printer’s Fist is scheduled for publication in March 2026 from Vanderbilt University Press. Range will be in residence for a week in spring 2026 to engage students, faculty and the greater community with her work. Read More

From July 24 to 26, veterans from all over the country—some with coaching backgrounds and experience, others looking to embark upon a new trajectory as a coach—gathered at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt to channel their military leadership into coaching skills. Vanderbilt hosted the opening reception on campus and several of the university's coaches led workshops and seminars throughout the summit. Read More

Coming off a season defined by grit, growth and unforgettable moments—including a thrilling bowl game victory—Vanderbilt Football is again stepping into the national spotlight. The team appears in the new Netflix docuseries SEC Football: Any Given Saturday; all eight episodes premiered Aug. 5 Read More

When bacterial pathogens enter our bodies, they’ve got one goal—hunt for food to multiply. And during the process, they make us sick. Eric Skaar, Ernest W. Goodpasture Professor of Pathology and director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, is uncovering how pathogens compete with healthy microbes for essential nutrients. Read More

The Fall Staff Awards recognize the many contributions of university staff to Vanderbilt’s core goals and mission. The winners of each award will be announced at the fifth annual Fall Staff Assembly at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 29 in Langford Auditorium. Nominations can be submitted by staff, students, faculty or postdoctoral scholars via the online nomination form through Friday, August 29. Read More

Philip Walker, director of Vanderbilt’s Annette and Irwin Eskind Family Biomedical Library and Learning Center, has been elected chair of the National Library of Medicine’s Board of Regents. Walker will serve a one-year term beginning Aug. 4. Read More

Vanderbilt University may nominate up to three tenure-track faculty per department for the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's 2026 Sloan Research Fellowships. Read More

Vanderbilt University may submit only one application to the South Arts 2025 Arts in Community Grants. Read More

Vanderbilt University may nominate one candidate for the 2026 Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholars Fellowship Award. Read More

“At Vanderbilt, we are committed to being a destination for the most promising individuals from a broad range of perspectives and creating an environment where they can reach their full potential. To that end, we undertake many efforts to advance and more deeply embed our long-held values of free expression,… Read More

A Netflix cinematographer who pioneered COVID-19-safe filming techniques, investigative journalists whose work has sparked international reforms, a sports media executive at the forefront of digital innovation, and veteran editors whose careers span five decades are among the latest inductees to the Vanderbilt Student Media Hall of Fame.  Read More

After concluding her term as associate dean for academic affairs for the Graduate School, Terrah Akard will return to her role as professor of nursing in the School of Nursing. Julián Hillyer, Centennial Professor of Biological Sciences, and Andrea Page-McCaw, Stevenson Chair and professor of cell and developmental biology, have been named associate deans for academic affairs. Read More

Tracy Sharpley-Whiting's research explores the interior lives of historical figures whose artistic influence shaped their worlds. Her impressive accomplishments led to her recent election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies. Read More

Carl Rodrigues, a dynamic leader in real estate and economic development, has been announced as Vanderbilt University’s first vice chancellor for real estate, facilities and development. He will begin his tenure on a part-time basis on Sept. 1 and transition to a full-time role beginning Nov. 1. Read More

Five Vanderbilt researchers have received Seeding Success grants for early-stage projects that have strong potential for external funding. The program, managed by Research Development and Support, reflects the university’s commitment to advancing high-impact research across disciplines. Read More

The Division of Government and Community Relations has announced the opening of applications for the Community Engagement Collaboration Fund. The fund aims to foster capacity for deeper collaboration among university partners and local community organizations.   Read More

Statement issued July 24, 2025 Vanderbilt has hired the firm Baker Donelson to conduct an independent review of recent incidents involving covert recordings of university employees. Baker Donelson will be tasked with reviewing the specific circumstances related to the recordings and identifying steps the university can take to ensure all… Read More