Issues

Feliks Topolski’s gestural drawing “Neville Chamberlain” was featured in two summer exhibits at the Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery. Drawing employs the most intimate of media: a pencil, a pen, a piece of chalk, a sheet of paper. These materials, so easily accessible and normally used for writing, become in the… Read More

The papers of Julian Goodman, an NBC broadcast pioneer who helped bring to life the network news programs we watch today, have been placed in Special Collections at the Jean and Alexander Heard Library. Goodman began at NBC as a correspondent in 1945 during the formative years of… Read More

The Vanderbilt University Alumni Association announces seven new members on its board of directors: Baptist Erik Baptist, BA’01, of Arlington, Va., is an attorney-adviser for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Enforcement, Division of Investigations. He majored in American studies and sociology at Vanderbilt before earning… Read More

Explore the world your way with other Vanderbilt alumni on an unforgettable journey presented by the Vanderbilt Travel Program. Whether you’re a seasoned Vanderbilt alumni traveler or have never taken a Vanderbilt trip before, the expanded slate of trips for 2011 offers something for everyone. Seventeen exciting itineraries… Read More

Minton Sparks (aka Jill Webb-Hill) Bare-legged in a housedress covered with red and orange flowers, spoken-word artist Minton Sparks walks to the microphone in bone-colored loafers, a purse of the same color hanging from her arm. As a guitar strums in the background, she begins… Read More

I’ve been fortunate to know and experience this great institution from many perspectives: as a student, member of staff, parent, faculty member, alumni volunteer—even as a patient. In each of these roles, I’ve come to understand more deeply the needs, concerns, hopes and contributions that bind the Vanderbilt community—on and… Read More

Let’s face it. We feel most connected to Vanderbilt when we associate with alumni who share our interests—whether it’s a former student activity, current career or professional interest, religious or lifestyle affiliation, or cultural passion. Common Connections, a new Vanderbilt Alumni Association program, celebrates this collective… Read More

Head Football Coach Bobby Johnson announces his retirement in a July 14 press conference. Bobby Johnson retired as head coach of Vanderbilt football July 14, a decision that took the Vanderbilt community by surprise. “This is Bobby’s decision,” said Vice Chancellor David Williams of the announcement. “When he informed me,… Read More

Sophomore Marina Alex won the SEC individual women’s golf championship and her first individual title as a collegian at the NorthRiver Yacht Club in Tuscaloosa, Ala, in April. She also was named a first-team selection to the National Golf Coaches Association’s All-American squad following her consistently high finishes throughout the… Read More

Vanderbilt’s men’s and women’s basketball teams advanced to postseason play in the NCAA Tournament. The women finished the year with a 23–11 overall record, 9–7 in regular-season SEC play. They advanced to the semifinal round of the SEC Tournament in Duluth, Ga., and the second round of the NCAA Tournament… Read More

Catherine Newman was named a third-team Academic All-American by ESPN The Magazine and CoSIDA in June. Track and Field: Commodores Break School Records Junior Katherine Hendricks set a new Vanderbilt record in the pole vault at 12-00.50 feet at the Sooner Invitational held in Norman, Okla., last April, and senior Buky Bamigboye set a… Read More

Leslie Lava on the court with her doubles partner, a San Quentin State Prison inmate. Leslie Lava, BA’78 San Quentin State Prison. Opened in 1852, it’s California’s oldest prison and the stuff of legend. Overlooking San Francisco Bay on 275 acres of waterfront property, the prison is home to 5,400… Read More

A 2008 pitch broke almost every bone in Andrew Giobbi’s face. Only four weeks later he was back in the game. Gramps, old man, super senior. Vanderbilt catcher Andrew Giobbi has heard it all before. As one of two fifth-year seniors on the roster for 2009–10 (shortstop Brian Harris was the other)… Read More

Dr. Alexis Rodriguez with Dr. Liliana Belskus, another volunteer, after a successful emergency C-section. Dr. Alexis Rodriguez, BA’05 Dr. Alexis Rodriguez had just earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois when he headed to the Guatemalan highlands last fall for three months’ work as a volunteer physician at… Read More

Anna Curry with her father, Ashley, at the summit. Anna Curry, BA’02 In January 2007, Anna Curry stunned friends and family when she announced her intentions to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s highest freestanding mountain. Curry has osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, a genetic disorder characterized by fragile bones. Read More

C.F. Payne C.F. Payne’s artwork has graced the covers of Time, Reader’s Digest, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times Magazine, MAD Magazine, Der Spiegel, U.S. News & World Report, The Atlantic, Texas Monthly and more. He has been commissioned to paint countless politicians, authors and entertainers and has illustrated 10… Read More

Food Equality and Obesity I was disappointed that “Flood Tide in Tennessee” [Spring 2010] didn’t discuss the causes of childhood obesity. One off-hand reference to “food inequality” does not do the issue justice. Fast food and other highly processed foods provide the greatest caloric density for families with… Read More

Editor GayNelle Doll Art Director and Designer Donna DeVore Pritchett Editorial Associate Editor and Advertising Manager Phillip B. Tucker Arts & Culture Editor Bonnie Arant Ertelt, BS’81 Class Notes and Sports Editor Nelson Bryan, BA’73 Photography and Imaging Director, Photography Services Daniel Dubois Photographers… Read More

The rain began in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 1, cleansing a layer of spring pollen from car windshields as students slept or crammed for finals. By the time most Nashvillians stirred, the rain was falling in great unrelenting sheets. I had planned to spend the weekend with… Read More