Expanding from coast to coast
Vanderbilt is expanding campuses, partnerships and opportunities from coast to coast! Learn more about the progress of each campus and their unique identities, goals and offerings below:
What an amazing year for Vanderbilt!
This was a year the university made massive strides in living out our mission of becoming the great university of the 21st century in the classroom, in the labs, on the stage, across the country and on the athletic field.
Check out some of the highlights from the 2025–26 academic year.
This year Vanderbilt University–New York City opened its doors. Vanderbilt hosted faculty, alumni, students, corporate partners and the NYC community for special events/collaborations on the Chelsea campus.
Vanderbilt’s planned West Palm Beach campus gained crucial momentum this year with the donation of land. This campus will focus on finance, management, engineering, space innovation, defense technology, manufacturing and business innovation.
This future San Francisco campus will expand Vanderbilt's focus on engineering, entrepreneurship, art and design to educate those interested in bridging creative expression and technological innovation.
Vanderbilt partnered with EPB of Chattanooga, home of America’s most comprehensive quantum commercialization infrastructure, to create the Institute for Quantum Innovation and accelerate discoveries from research to the real world.
Vanderbilt leaders in the spotlight
Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and faculty took center stage this year, sharing insights in major media outlets. Vanderbilt expertise shined internationally as major leaders came to campus.
READ: Vanderbilt faculty artists present at prestigious Venice Biennale
Football's breakthrough season
The Commodores football team, led by head coach Clark Lea, gave fans one of the most exciting and successful seasons yet! The Dores, with quarterback and Heisman runner-up Diego Pavia, ended the season 10-2, with a Top 10 ranking, for the first time since 1947.
READ: Clark Lea named SEC Coach of the Year
WATCH: Student Tyler Hwang kick a field goal when Vanderbilt hosts ESPN’s College GameDay
WATCH: Eli Stowers reacting to being the 54th overall draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft
National dialogue
Free expression and thoughtful conversations across differences are key values for Vanderbilt students and faculty.
READ: Vanderbilt Magazine story showcasing Dialogue Vanderbilt, “The Art of Dialogue”
Basketball renaissance
The women’s and men’s basketball teams had tremendous seasons. For the first time in 24 years, the women’s team surged to a No. 5 ranking, with Mikayla Blakes delivering 11 games with 30-plus points, the most by any SEC player this century. The men’s team stormed into the AP Top 10 fueled by a 27-win milestone regular season.
WATCH: Shea Ralph named 2026 NCAA Division I Coach of the Year
WATCH: Standout sophomore Mikayla Blakes' NCAA tournament highlights
Research toward ambitious solutions
Working collaboratively to reach creative and ambitious solutions to the world’s greatest challenges is an essential part of Vanderbilt. Here are just a few of this year’s research accomplishments.
SOCIAL: The launch of the Vanderbilt Early Childhood Research Collaborative
READ: Meet Vanderbilt researchers and hear about the sparks that led to their discoveries
NEWS: Follow the latest research coming from Vanderbilt University
Growing innovation partnerships
Vanderbilt is fostering partnerships, conducting groundbreaking research and reimagining campus space to drive forward the development of Nashville’s and Tennessee’s research and innovation economy.
READ: Global innovation collaboration between Nissha Medical Technologies and Vanderbilt
READ: Government, industry and education leaders talk tech at Vanderbilt Quantum Forum
NEWS: Vanderbilt’s Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization hosted the second annual Southeast Venture Showcase
Cute craze boosts campus culture
READ: Limited-edition enameled pins celebrating special events, groups and programs became one of the year’s favorite collectibles. Pin drops all over campus invited students, faculty and staff to collect (and trade) them all!
WATCH: The pins had cute competition, however, when giant Vanderbilt-themed Squishmallows took over a Commodores basketball game. The idea was actually developed by students at Owen Graduate School of Management!
Dig into discovery through podcasts
Faculty and students explored areas of interest through podcasts, including the second season of Quantum Potential podcast featuring Provost C. Cybele Raver interviewing Vanderbilt faculty, deans and special guests about their research and why it matters.
LISTEN: Check out both seasons of the Quantum Potential podcast
READ: Jad Abumrad receives a Peabody Award for his latest podcast project
Convening power
As a leader in civil discourse and discovery, Vanderbilt hosted power players from national security, government, technology and academia in focused summits.
READ: Vanderbilt hosts global policy, business, academic leaders for World Economic Forum program
READ: Government, industry and education leaders talk tech at Vanderbilt Quantum Forum
READ: Research Policy Innovation Day to strengthen research–policy partnerships
Celebrate good times, come on!
The Vanderbilt community knows how to celebrate a milestone and help people feel at home on campus.
