Reagan Villet

Mentorship shapes every phase of student development at Vanderbilt, from the direction of students’ research papers to their careers and aspirations. But its impact is especially strong in the lab of F. Peter “Fred” Guengerich, PhD’73, in the department of biochemistry. Read More

Discovery Dialogues, a new podcast being launched April 6 by the Vanderbilt Graduate School, brings doctoral research and graduate student voices to the forefront. The podcast series spotlights the scholarship, ideas and academic experiences of Vanderbilt Ph.D. students and postdoctoral scholars through thoughtful, in-depth conversations with podcast host Nick Hyer, program manager for the Graduate and Postdoc Academic Success program. Read More

As the academic year winds down, Vanderbilt Campus Dining is already planning for the next. Take a few minutes to complete the Spring 2026 survey and share your thoughts on dining hours, service, menu options and overall experience. Read More

The Biodiversity Heritage Library has announced a new collaboration with Vanderbilt University’s Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries that will provide digital preservation support for the world’s largest open-access repository of natural history materials. Through the agreement, the Heard Libraries will contribute cloud infrastructure expertise and technical leadership for BHL, which serves as a foundational resource for biodiversity science, taxonomy and conservation research, with more than 63 million pages dating from the 15th to the 21st century. Read More

The annual Graduate Education Honors Banquet honored doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, excellence in academics, innovation and mentorship. The March 19 banquet recognized the outstanding achievements taking place across more than 50 graduate programs and departments. Read More

This year, we’re kicking off I ⚓ VU Week and the Giving Day excitement by getting Anchored in Community with a different kind of donation. Giving back starts with showing up to prove that “I Bleed Black and Gold” isn’t just a slogan — it’s one more way to give back. Read More

For centuries, the human brain has intrigued scientists and philosophers alike. It stores our memories and shapes our behavior—the center of learning, emotion and identity. Yet even after decades of research, much about how the brain works remains a mystery. “People have been fascinated with questions of how you learn and who you are—philosophical questions that all come back to processes in the brain,” says Lisa Monteggia, Lee E. Limbird Professor in Pharmacology and the Barlow Family Director of the Vanderbilt Brain Institute. Now neuroscience is at a watershed moment, with new tools poised to dramatically expand understanding of the central nervous system.   Read More

Vanderbilt Board of Trust member Robert “Bob” Levy, BA’72, and Diane vS. Levy are fueling a surge in momentum for Vanderbilt’s future in South Florida with a $6.5 million commitment. Their gift marks an important milestone in Vanderbilt’s expansion to its new graduate campus in West Palm Beach, establishing a strong foundation for academic excellence and strategic flexibility in the region known as Wall Street South. Read More

The humanities shape how we understand history, culture and the complex challenges facing society. In March, Vanderbilt advocates Paul Stob, director of the A&S College Core and professor of communication studies, and Ayla Faullin, a Vanderbilt junior studying English, traveled to Washington, D.C., for the National Humanities Alliance’s Humanities Advocacy Day. There, they met with congressional offices to advocate for continued federal support for the National Endowment for the Humanities. Read More

That spirit of shared responsibility anchored a recent collaboration among the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Nashville Public Library’s Special Collections, Vanderbilt University and Tennessee State Parks, bringing history to life through dialogue, performance and community engagement. Read More

Hussam Mahmoud, director of the Vanderbilt Center for Sustainability, Energy and Climate, has been named a National Geographic Explorer for an innovative study about how to provide a better framework for preparing for wildfires. National Geographic Explorers are groundbreaking scientists, conservationists, educators and storytellers who get funding and support from the National Geographic Society to illuminate and protect the planet. Read More

Extreme heat kills more people in the U.S. each year than hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes combined. It's typically thought of as a climate issue, but a new report from the Vanderbilt Cultural Contexts of Health and Wellbeing Initiative suggests that it's also a social one. The report examines how heat-related illness is often made worse by biological vulnerabilities, cultural norms and political and economic structures. Read More

Everything you touch was developed by basic science, says Ian Macara, chair of the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology. From food varieties and new crops, to your phone, your computer and the plastics we use every day, everything originally came out of a basic research lab. Macara's department, within the School of Medicine Basic Sciences, aims to train the next generation of scientists to advance basic biomedical research at the cellular, molecular and organismal levels. Read More

Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management has been named the National Partner of the Year by America’s Blood Centers, in recognition of the school’s partnership with the organization to develop and deliver its Executive Fellows Program. Read More

The results of 2026 Vanderbilt Poll–Nashville reflect, in part, the effects of the ice storm that gripped the region in late January. The storm and its aftermath zapped the level of optimism that city residents have enjoyed for the past decade, and respondents also expressed more concerns about Nashville’s direction and leadership. Approval ratings for the school board, police and fire departments remained relatively stable, but Mayor Freddie O’Connell and Metro Council suffered a notable dip in public support.   Read More

Let’s show the world what happens when Commodores are ⚓Anchored in Community⚓. Giving Day is April 16, 2026. More than just a 24-hour clock, it’s the grand finale of I Love ⚓U Week, a weeklong celebration of the people, programs and progress that make Vandy home. The energy of Vanderbilt students, faculty, staff and alumni fuels the innovations of tomorrow. Read More

The Business of VU program provides students, faculty and staff with direct access to the strategy, structure and financial framework that drive Vanderbilt University. Now entering its 10th cohort, the program continues its mission of strengthening institutional understanding, leadership readiness and cross-campus connection. Read More

Gabrielle Goodwin, a freshman at Vanderbilt University, turned a childhood frustration with hair barrettes falling out into a patented product and thriving business. Working with her mother, she created GaBBY Bows, a double-snap barrette designed to stay securely in place, and later launched a company focused on promoting confidence and entrepreneurship among young girls. Now a student at Vanderbilt, Goodwin continues to grow her business while mentoring aspiring young entrepreneurs and encouraging others to turn their ideas into opportunities. Read More

Vanderbilt Law School has received a $10 million commitment from Lara and Clay Travis to fund a number of key priorities, including the First Amendment Clinic, the Law School’s “Respectfully Dissent” debate series, merit- and need-based scholarship aid, child care funding for student-parents, support services for student veterans, and the Law School’s ongoing building renovation. The Travis’ investment directly supports the university’s historic Dare to Grow campaign. Read More

After nearly two decades serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of Vanderbilt Health and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, will retire from both leadership roles on Dec. 31. A national search for his successor, who will hold both leadership roles, will be led by the Vanderbilt Health Board of Directors. Read More