Amy Wolf

Class of 2023: See how Mary Cayten Brakefield using her experiences with physical illness to inform and inspire her namesake fashion business focused on accessible and inclusive universal design. Read More

Class of 2023: Kingston Ho doesn’t just play beautiful music—he’s studying how his brain and body make those melodies happen. Read why the award-winning violinist with multiple prestigious international competitions under his belt chose to double major in violin performance at the Blair School of Music and in medicine, health and society in the College of Arts and Science. Read More

Class of 2023: When mechanical engineering major Lauren Grohowski talks about her numerous projects, her face lights up with excitement. She not only geeks out over the joy of building and solving complex problems, but she also is passionate about using her skills to be an “empathetic engineer.” Read More

Class of 2023: Amanda Harding wears three hats at Vanderbilt—one as a university staff member, another as a doctoral student pursuing her degree online and a third as president of the advisory group that represents Vanderbilt staff members. Read how her desire to further her education complements and inspires her work in the online learning space.  Read More

Meet some members of the Class of 2023 who are cultivating belonging to strengthen, support and enrich the community at Vanderbilt and beyond.  Read More

Class of 2023: Sanjana Padala, a medicine, health and society major from Little Rock, Arkansas, has a heart for helping those who might feel unheard. Whether volunteering at Veterans Affairs hospitals, tutoring fellow students in physics, creating cultural connections through Asian American clubs, or dreaming of a future working in health care and helping to support mental and physical health equity, Padala’s calming and optimistic nature fosters connection.  Read More

Class of 2023: From Navy SEAL to Vanderbilt Bass Military Scholar to doctor. Matt Smithis taking his expertise in leadership and collaboration into the operating room. Read More

Class of 2023: See how Justin Brooks is on a mission of compassion, using his growing legal expertise to aid and empower victims of domestic violence and the economically disadvantaged. Read More

Class of 2023: Whether collaborating in a biomedical engineering lab, leading a cooking class or rocking out on stage with his band, John Abbott has a zest for living life to its fullest and sharing his experiences with others. Read More

Class of 2023: See how New Orleans native Darren Francis has expanded his faith and his future with the help of a special community at Vanderbilt. Read More

Class of 2023: It’s every child’s nightmare: Both parents are rushed to the hospital with life-threatening emergencies. But that terrifying personal experience—and his parents’ recovery—inspired Mark Miller to put aside a 20-year management career and earn a master’s in nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. Read More

Class of 2023: For some, a piano is just an instrument. For Jack Allen, a piano performance major at the Vanderbilt Blair School of Music, it is a vehicle for compassion, inspiration, teaching and community. Read More

Class of 2023: Learn why actor and playwright Taylor Rasmussen left the bright lights of New York City to follow a new dream of effecting positive change through business. But this isn’t fiction. It’s the life of Taylor Rasmussen, MBA’23. Read More

Class of 2023: Read how special education major Nora Smith has found inspiration, friendship and connection within the disabled community at Vanderbilt. Read More

Class of 2023: Read how biomedical engineering major and head resident advisor Namrah Ajmal is creating unique spaces for community and belonging. Read More

Whether working on dynamic discoveries in the lab, connecting with students and faculty or pursuing his passion for nature photography, acclaimed biomedical researcher John Kuriyan is inspired by his recent move to join Vanderbilt as the new dean of the School of Medicine Basic Sciences and Distinguished University Professor. Read More

A mental health battle with internet addiction and the ruinous effects of unfiltered social media nearly ravaged a talented entrepreneur while she was a student at Vanderbilt. But Larissa May, BA’16, has turned her healing journey into an influential, youth-based digital advocacy and empowerment platform, #HalfTheStory. May returned to Vanderbilt March 4 to speak as part of the Clinton Global Initiative University annual meeting. Read More

When Somto Dimobi Okoye, BE’19, was growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, her mother would open their home to people who needed help—instilling a philosophy of building strength and community through a tightly woven support system. Okoye continues that philosophy by creating ways to help colleagues and Vanderbilt students realize and exercise their full potential. Read More

A dynamic group of Vanderbilt scholars—all women—with expertise in engineering, earth sciences, sociology and storytelling took to a global stage at the 27th annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, better known as COP27. Read More

Byron Pitts, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, author and co-host of ABC’s Nightline, warned against the dangers of becoming indifferent to helping others and challenged members of the Vanderbilt community to see their potential to change the world through service when he delivered the university’s 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Series keynote address on Monday evening. Read More