Reagan Villet

Jennifer and Marc Lipschultz have committed a landmark collection of nearly 5,000 photographs, featuring work from hundreds of photographers including Bill Owens, Danny Lyon, Berenice Abbott, Lalla Essaydi and Dorothy Norman, to the Vanderbilt University Museum of Art. In addition to its unique emphasis on photojournalism—including iconic wire press photos from WWII, the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement and beyond—the collection also spans urban street photography, portraits and other themes that are ideal for inspiring student immersion and a range of programming. Read More

Collegiate voice students can only dream about the opportunity—someday—to be featured as a soloist with a major symphony orchestra. For Blair junior Vyjayanthi “Viji” Burma, a music education major, that dream became a reality in a whirlwind fashion last month. Read More

Ointments like Neosporin contain the antibiotic neomycin, which works great to kill bacteria on the outside of the body when you scrape your knee or have a hangnail. But inside the body, neomycin does more harm than good—kidney and neurological damage and deafness. Research Assistant Professor Bhawik Jain and colleagues in his lab have figured out why that is, and how to stop it. This could make neomycin another tool in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Read More

Much of the human brain is still a mystery, largely because it’s pretty difficult to see what’s going on in there. Assistant Professor Daniel Gonzales and the team in his lab are working to make that easier. They’re using experimental platforms that record brain activity with unprecedented precision on all levels. It works on everything from whole-brain networks to individual synapses—tiny gaps between brain cells that are one-tenth the width of a human hair. “We can … really detail pictures of brain activity during learning,” Gonzales said. “And then we can apply that to study diseases that degrade learning.” Read More

Road closures are a pain—and sometimes they’re not even supposed to be happening. A project by senior research scientist Ayan Mukhopadhyay is working to develop a system—SENTRY—that uses AI to help city inspectors find and address unauthorized road closures in Nashville. “The system has the potential to save millions in unpaid permit fees, reduce external inspection costs and minimize disruptions for residents, commuters and local businesses,” Mukhopadhyay said. His research is supported by a $697,000 grant that's part of NSF's CIVIC Innovation Challenge. Read More

Through a collaboration between US and Kenyan researchers and Turkana communities of northern Kenya, scientists have uncovered key genetic adaptations underlying survival in hot and dry environments, revealing how natural selection has enabled this pas... Read More

During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we invite all students, faculty and staff to “Stay Cyber-Safe, Live Cyber-Smart.” By arming ourselves with knowledge and crucial cyber-tips, sharing risks openly, working together across departments and supporting one another, we build a culture of trust and protection where everyone plays a positive role in keeping Vanderbilt secure.  Read More

Vanderbilt University can select two candidates for the 2026 SebastianStrong Foundation Discovery Science Award. Read More

Vanderbilt University may submit one application to the Tennessee Arts Commission Arts Project Support (APS) OR the Rural Arts Project Support (RAPS) program. Read More

Starting in October 2025, the Center for Global Democracy, with support from the Kellogg Institute, will conduct the 2025/26 round of the AmericasBarometer, which tracks public opinion on democracy in 20 countries across the Americas. The initiative builds on the Center for Global Democracy’s expertise in survey research while drawing on the Kellogg Institute’s long-standing strength in the study of democracy in Latin America. Read More

Power of Suggestion: The Hypnotism Library of Dr. Albert Moll, curated by History of Medicine Collections curator Chris Ryland and archivist Jim Thweatt, is on view at Vanderbilt’s Special Collections and University Archives through mid-February 2026. The items in the exhibit are drawn from a multilingual collection offering a unique perspective on the history of hypnotism as well as its relationship to animal magnetism, psychotherapy, mesmerism, sleepwalking, criminology, and even yoga. Read More

As Vanderbilt students Katie Wong (junior), Ren Adajar (junior) and Christin Ann Sanchez (senior) coasted through the bustle of Ho Chi Minh City on the backs of motorbikes, holding tightly onto their peer tour guides this past May, it was hard to believe that 24 hours earlier they were on campus saying goodbye to friends, professors and Nashville for the summer. The three students knew their itinerary and whom they would meet with, and thanks to their professor’s advising, they understood the learning objectives on gender equity and human rights, but they did not know how much of an impact the following few weeks would have on their lives.  Read More

Vanderbilt University has joined the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance, aiming to address middle Tennessee’s growing technology talent demand, with particular emphasis on artificial intelligence and cloud computing skills. The program offers faculty from area universities access to content for their courses related to AI, cloud development and cybersecurity as well as access to experiential learning opportunities for their students. Read More

Vanderbilt’s Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries have received a prestigious National Leadership Grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The award, valued at more than $121,000, was made through the IMLS’ Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. Read More

Character and leadership took center stage at Vanderbilt University as retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal joined retired Gen. Paul Nakasone, founding director of the Institute of National Security, for the institute’s speaker series Monday evening. Read More

The College of Arts and Science has long been an innovator and leader in the arts—from theater to studio art to cinema to architecture. Faculty and students alike create, build, and explore in visionary ways that affect the way we interpret and live in the world around us. To further develop the arts at Vanderbilt, the college has launched the Arts and Science Arts Project. The strategic initiative aims to elevate, expand, and connect art initiatives at Vanderbilt, develop new programming, and build collaborations with the arts community around Nashville and beyond. Read More

A series of sidewalk and roadway closures will begin on Monday, Oct. 6, in Vanderbilt’s Central Neighborhood. Whether you are walking, biking or driving, take time to chart a course that will make navigating campus a breeze.   Read More

Open Enrollment is your once-a-year opportunity to choose the benefits that best meet the needs of you and your family. To ensure you’re enrolled in your desired plans, all fully benefits-eligible employees must complete Open Enrollment, even if you do not plan to make changes or waive coverage. Open Enrollment will take place on My VU Benefits between 12 a.m. CT Oct. 16, and 11:59 p.m. CT Oct. 31, 2025. Read More

Engaging in thoughtful dialogue is not only essential in today’s society, but also is a trademark of the Vanderbilt experience, which begins with the first-year experience on The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons. On Sunday, Sept. 14, author Jacqueline Woodson spoke to a packed Langford Auditorium for the 19th Annual Lawson Lecture and offered a master class for the Class of 2029 on using storytelling to foster discourse and find connection, continuing the 2025–26 first-year programming theme of “Stories that Connect Us.”   Read More

Stata and R boot camps are coming up this fall for those seeking a refresher in the basics. These interactive, hands-on sessions provide guided practice using the software and include an optional hour after each class for individual questions with the instructor. Read More