Jenna Somers
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Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center secures $4 million in renewed funding to support ongoing progress in early childhood development
Funding renewals from major philanthropic organizations will strengthen operations and research efforts aimed at improving outcomes for young children and families. Press Contact: Sydne Lewis, 615-343-9946, sydne.lewis@vanderbilt.edu The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center at Vanderbilt University Peabody College of education and human development celebrates the most recent renewed financial… Read MoreDec 19, 2025
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Peabody College fall 2025 notes and honors
Golnaz Arastoopour Irgens, professor of human-centered learning technologies and director of the IDEA lab, was selected for the competitive Amazon Web Services Education Equity Initiative for her work with Adventures in AI, a suite of tools that lets elementary students not only learn how to use AI,… Read MoreDec 3, 2025
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The value of Vanderbilt Peabody College
Dean Camilla P. Benbow Traditional college-aged students, working professionals, preschool through 12th grade learners—at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development, we teach all of them and advance discoveries that improve their educational experiences. While much of this work takes place on campus, Peabody’s value extends to classrooms and… Read MoreDec 2, 2025
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Pull up your chairs to the tables of influence
The following speech was delivered by Peabody Distinguished Alumna Sharon Shields, PhD’76, at Peabody Diploma Ceremonies on May 8, 2025. Her remarks have been lightly edited for context. Sharon Shields and Camilla Benbow, Peabody College Doctor of Education Degree Ceremony at the Peabody Esplanade on May 09, 2025. (Photo… Read MoreDec 1, 2025
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Mark Lipsey, Vanderbilt Peabody professor emeritus, awarded most prestigious prize in criminology
By Jenna Somers Mark Lipsey Mark Lipsey, professor emeritus of public policy at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development, has been awarded the Stockholm Prize in Criminology, the world’s largest and most prestigious criminology prize. Lipsey received the award for his research on rehabilitative programs… Read MoreNov 19, 2025
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Vanderbilt Peabody College announces new Teacher Pathway Scholarship to strengthen teacher pipeline
Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development has established the new Teacher Pathway Scholarship for all admitted master’s and Ed.D. students in initial teacher licensure programs and advanced programs. The new scholarship guarantees a minimum 30 percent of tuition for initial licensure and advanced programs listed below,… Read MoreNov 18, 2025
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Vanderbilt, George Washington University’s Schoolteacher at 50 conference reframes teaching profession
By Jenna Somers On October 30 and 31, education scholars, practitioners and policymakers convened Schoolteacher at 50. The conference marked the 50th anniversary of sociologist Dan Lortie’s book about the ethos of the teaching profession. Attendees reflected upon Lortie’s insights at the time of publication as well as their applicability… Read MoreNov 11, 2025
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Vanderbilt Peabody College launches M.S. program in Quantitative Methods and Data Analytics for Human Behavior
Key Takeaways: Vanderbilt has launched a new Quantitative Methods and Data Analytics for Human Behavior M.S. program. Students who earn the degree will have in-demand skills to be competitive across a range of industries. Apply early to take advantage of priority decision benefits: Priority Decision 1: January 3,… Read MoreNov 11, 2025
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Alumnus reminiscence: John Scopes at Peabody College
By Steven Smartt, BME’71, MME’72 April 1, 1970, was a notable day in the history of Peabody College. John T. Scopes, defendant in the famous “Monkey Trial” of July 1925 in Dayton, Tenn., spent a full day on campus at the invitation of the Peabody Student Government Association. John… Read MoreNov 10, 2025
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Vanderbilt Peabody faculty receive NSF grant to study how conversation shapes memory, with applications for AI and education
By Jenna Somers In daily conversations, most people are not aware of the complex brain processes taking place that make their conversations possible. However, understanding these processes could improve how AI communicates with people and how students learn at school. A new study aims to shed light on these processes,… Read MoreNov 7, 2025
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An unexpected window into collaborative research at Vanderbilt
Sae-Eun (Grace) Lee By Sae-Eun (Grace) Lee When I began interning for Nashville Peer, I didn’t know what to expect. I assumed the work would involve tedious tasks that required my time but low levels of engagement. However, life is full of surprises, and this experience was yet another. Read MoreNov 7, 2025
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Claire Smrekar, school desegregation and school choice expert, retires in December
By Jenna Somers Claire Smrekar (center), associate professor of leadership, policy and organizations, and Ron Zimmer, former associate professor of public policy and education (left), took part in the panel discussion “Options in Education: School Vouchers—What Research Shows.” Claire Smrekar was well acquainted with Cleveland, Mississippi. She had traveled… Read MoreNov 6, 2025
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From cell phones to principal pipelines: How TERA empowers evidence-based decision making in Tennessee schools
Founded in 2016, the Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) brought together leaders from Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development and the Tennessee Department of Education to launch one of the first state-level research-practice partnerships aimed at informing education policy and practice. Through TERA, researchers… Read MoreNov 5, 2025
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Peabody student wins Obama Foundation Voyager Scholarship
Jason Vadnos An increasingly globalized world needs young leaders who can bridge divides and help solve humanity’s biggest challenges. This year, Jason Vadnos, a third-year student in the Department of Human and Organizational Development (HOD) at Vanderbilt Peabody College was named a 2025-2027 recipient of the… Read MoreOct 31, 2025
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Peabody College welcomes new faculty
Salvatore Falletta (submitted photo) Warren Lowell (Vanderbilt University) Amy Owen Michelle Perdomo Douglas Ribeiro (Vanderbilt University) Jonathan Seiden… Read MoreOct 31, 2025
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Vanderbilt Peabody College professor named inaugural Jackie Bezos Researcher in Residence
Andrew Nalani Andrew Nalani, assistant professor of human and organizational development, has joined the Bezos Family Foundation as an inaugural scholar of the Jackie Bezos Researcher in Residence program. Nalani began the one-year residency program on August 18, taking a leave of absence from his faculty position… Read MoreOct 13, 2025
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Pakistani delegation attends Vanderbilt Peabody College’s STEM-Powered Immersion Conference
By Jenna Somers In September, a delegation from Pakistan visited Vanderbilt University for the weeklong STEM-Powered Immersion Conference, hosted by Peabody College of education and human development. Six faculty members from Sukkur IBA University and Qasim Aslam, founder and chief executive officer of Beyond the Classroom, participated in a… Read MoreOct 9, 2025