Year: 2025

As Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Physics and chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Julia Velkovska studies the tiny particles that form our universe. She focuses on how nuclear matter behaves when confronted with extreme density and temperatures (think trillions of degrees)—similar to the conditions existing microseconds after the big bang, right as the universe was starting to take shape. Just this year, Velkovska and her team of physicists were awarded the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, along with 13,508 colleagues across four landmark CERN experiments. The prize honors decades of work expanding our understanding of the physical universe. Read More

Dean Pamela Jeffries of the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing conducts research around innovative instruction using technology and simulations that give student nurses a way to begin learning how to make clinical decisions without putting patients at risk. Read More

Charles G. Finney Professor of Homiletics and Liturgics Eunjoo Kim does research that focuses on new perspectives and methods of preaching and worship that are relevant to changing cultural contexts. Read More

Eleven Vanderbilt students are engaging in cutting-edge national security research through a new, dynamic partnership between Immersion Vanderbilt and the Vanderbilt Institute of National Security. This partnership emphasizes the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of Immersion Vanderbilt and supports the Institute of National Security’s mission of developing the next generation of national security leaders. Read More

Vanderbilt recently announced the addition of two new cohorts to the Posse Scholars program: Miami and Atlanta. The expansion builds upon the original Vanderbilt Posse launched in New York over 36 years ago as well as the addition of a second New York cohort and a new Houston cohort… Read More

We can’t control life’s ups and downs, but we can control the way we respond to them. Emotional wellness can help us navigate challenges and feel better. It can also lower our risk for physical and mental health issues and increase overall life satisfaction.  Read More

In March, students and faculty from Vanderbilt University and Tennessee State University took an environmental tour of Nashville, funded by the Vanderbilt Center for Sustainability, Energy, and Climate. The students learned about the city’s history and recent sustainability projects to improve the environment. Yolanda J. McDonald The tour included… Read More

Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development’s expertise in designing and offering gifted education was highlighted in March when Peabody Global Initiatives and Chris Vanags, director of the Peabody Research Office, hosted a pair of Japanese visiting researchers. Hirokazu Kumazaki, professor in the Department of Neuropsychiatry at… Read More

Meet four members of the Class of 2025 who are collaborating in powerful ways. Read More

The April Faculty Senate meeting will be Thursday, April 10, from 4:10 to 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be in the Faculty Commons Building’s second-floor event space.  Votes are scheduled as well as remarks from Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and Vice Provost for Special Initiatives Duane Watson. Read More

Kathleen Hoover-Dempsey Kathleen Virginia Hoover-Dempsey, 82, passed away on March 24, 2025. She joined Peabody College in 1973 as professor of psychology and retired in 2013 as professor of psychology, emerita. During her career, she served several years as chair of the Department of Psychology and Human Development and as… Read More

Vanderbilt Divinity School was recently awarded a $30,000 grant from the Wabash Center to study artificial intelligence and its impact. The project, “We Can Wait No Longer: Educating Theological Educators About Artificial Intelligence,” seeks to inform Divinity faculty of the mechanics behind AI and the latest advancements. Read More

Eighteen months since taking office, Mayor Freddie O’Connell continues to enjoy broad public approval. The 2025 Vanderbilt Poll–Nashville found his favorability among Nashville residents at 67 percent—a very high level of approval for any elected politician that underscores the success of his first year and a half in office. O’Connell’s positive assessment aligns with the emerging consensus that Nashville is headed in a better direction than it was a few years ago.  Read More

In a series on the Vanderbilt Instagram account, students can get to know some of the dedicated staff who play a crucial role in creating a welcoming and supportive environment for them. This installment features Ryan Lemons, welder and pipefitter for the power plant, who is with University Facilities. Read More

Learn about the women who inspire Steven Townsend in his breakthrough research that puts a spotlight on women, their health and discoveries around the healing powers of breast milk. Read More

Mark your calendars—Giving Day is coming in hot on April 10, and we’re going bigger than ever with our first-ever I ⚓ VU Week, happening April 7–11. Each day brings a new way to celebrate Commodore pride, give back and show the world what it means to be #VU4Life.  Read More

Giving Day 2025 is April 10, so get ready to show some ❤️ for Vanderbilt! The university thrives because of you, and we invite you to join other Commodores to amplify our collective impact by giving back to support students and programs across campus.   Read More

H. Rodes Hart, BA’54, who had an insatiable appetite for learning and education and contributed to Vanderbilt’s growth through his philanthropy and more than 30 years of leadership on the university’s Board of Trust, died March 30. He was 93. Read More

As fewer people enter the education profession and high rates of principal turnover persist, school districts need strategic and systematic approaches to recruiting, hiring, and supporting effective school leaders. Principal pipelines may be the answer. Principal pipelines are a comprehensive and aligned system for identifying, developing, and supporting school leaders. Read More

By Jenna Somers Alex Astrella At age two Alex Astrella, MEd’23, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. His parents were told that he had little chance of graduating high school or becoming financially independent. Today, Astrella is the founder and CEO of Blu Star Productions, an award-winning film studio… Read More