Dialogue

Vanderbilt's commitment to freedom of expression and civil discourse is inseparable from its collaborative spirit. It is at the heart of the Vanderbilt community. None of the transformative learning and discovery that we cherish as an institution of higher education can happen without it. At Vanderbilt, “unexpected collaborations” will always lead to great things. It is a function of who we are; it is, quintessentially, this community. Read More

Following the news that Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos plans to step down in August, many Vanderbilt alumni, parents, and supporters of the university reached out with letters of gratitude and well wishes. Below are just a few of the numerous messages received in the weeks since the announcement was made. Read More

SUPPORT FOR VULNERABILITY With curiosity and gratitude I read about Vanderbilt’s initiatives to offer outreach, dialogue and support for students’ mental health [“Going There,” Campus News, Spring 2017]. In the summer issue, I also read Dr. Paul Berner’s response to this initiative, where he expressed his concerns about… Read More

I am convinced this is the finest collegiate publication in print. Most every article in every edition piques my interest, and the writing is outstanding! The photojournalism and letters to the editor are a joy to peruse as well, and in keeping with the overall balance and excellence. Thank you for all the years of enjoyment. Read More

Your article (wish it had been on the cover) caught my attention. I so appreciated the lessons learned—they seem timeless and still relevant. Thank you for taking time to share the story … and thanks, too, to the editor for including it. So important! Read More

MEMORIAL HALL On Aug. 15, 1955, a young woman donned in academic regalia was ready to graduate from George Peabody College and become the first African American ever to do so. She deliberately sought out a classmate to take a picture of her standing on the steps of Confederate… Read More

ADDENDA I have some additional facts to add to the article “A Plan for All Seasons” in the Winter 2016 issue. First, I was surprised to learn that George Kessler designed the 1905 plan for Vanderbilt that was realized only in the case of Furman Hall. Read More

The P.O.V. essay written by Mallory McDuff, BS’88, about her experience in Professor Vereen Bell’s freshman writing class resonated deeply within the Vanderbilt alumni community and beyond. A Facebook post about the piece generated more than 35,000 page views of the story online. It also sparked plenty of memories that people shared on social media. Read More

GayNelle Doll, an editor of Vanderbilt publications for nearly 30 years—the last eight as editor of Vanderbilt Magazine—retired at the end of March. In response to her final Editor’s Letter in the Spring 2015 issue, many readers wrote to wish her well. Here’s a sampling. Read More

I was delighted to see your salute to my old boss, John Seigenthaler [“A Precious Gift”], in the Prologue section of the summer issue. I went to work at The Tennessean during the fall of 1958 at the same time I started as a student at George Peabody College for Teachers. Read More

I enjoyed Seth Robertson’s article “Flight Path” in the Spring 2014 issue, which chronicled Doug Parker’s career culminating in his running the world’s largest airline, American Airlines Group. What a great accomplishment for Mr. Parker. It is very reassuring to have a Vanderbilt graduate [MBA’86] in such an important position. Read More

Vanderbilt Magazine’s format is beautiful, the pictures amazing, and the articles are timely, interesting and well written. I look forward to reading it. Read More

It was a special treat to find in your latest issue the article by Bronwen Dickey about her father, James Dickey, BA’49, MA’50. She nailed him and that entire era of Deliverance. Read More

Brenda Ellis’ recollection of the Thresher disaster [“Watershed Event,” Collective Memory, Summer 2013] and Vanderbilt’s connections then and now brought to mind that fateful April day 50 years ago. Read More