Expertise
How to be a hydroponic farmer: Expert advice from agricultural entrepreneur Hassan Sharaff, BE’07
Apr. 20, 2021—Sharaff is the owner of HydroHouse Farms, a commercial hydroponics business in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, that supplies leafy greens to many restaurants and businesses in Nashville—including Vanderbilt Campus Dining.
How to build a tiny home: Expert advice from Sean Ticknor, BE’99
Feb. 16, 2021—in 2016, Ticknor founded Big Skills Tiny Homes, a nonprofit that teaches high school graduates the building trades by building a tiny home.
How to spot misinformation—and what to do about it: Expert advice from psychology professor Lisa Fazio
Sep. 22, 2020—Lisa Fazio, assistant professor of psychology and human development at Peabody College, shares a few tips on how to avoid knowledge neglect and spreading misinformation.
How to collect vinyl records: Expert advice from record label owner Egon Alapatt, BA’00
Jul. 29, 2020—The term “vinyl enthusiast” doesn’t do justice to Alapatt’s work. He has released dozens of new and almost-lost-to-history singles and albums through Now Again Records, launched in 2002 while he was general manager for the influential independent hip-hop label Stones Throw Records.
How to produce an investigative podcast: Expert advice from podcast host Chip Brantley, BA’95
Feb. 12, 2020—Chip Brantley, BA’95, explains the steps that went into producing White Lies, a podcast about the 1965 unsolved murder of a white Unitarian minister and civil rights activist named James Reeb.
How to conduct a successful college search: Expert advice from admissions dean Doug Christiansen
Nov. 7, 2019—Vice Provost Douglas L. Christiansen, who oversees undergraduate admissions and enrollment management, offers a few tips here for helping your child execute a successful college search process.
How to be a grill master: Expert advice from chef Jon Bonnell, BS’94
Aug. 20, 2019—Chef Jon Bonnell, BS’94, shares his tips for success as both “grill master” and host.
How to mind your manners—in 1890: Expert advice from English professor Cecelia Tichi
May. 23, 2019—Just in time for the debut of a new television series this year on NBC exploring the Gilded Age, Cecelia Tichi, the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English, has published her latest book, What Would Mrs. Astor Do? (2018, NYU Press).
How to bowl a strike: Expert advice from bowling coach Josie Earnest Barnes, BS’10
Feb. 19, 2019—Josie Earnest Barnes, BS’10, associate head coach of Vanderbilt's bowling team, offers tips to novice bowlers, rented shoes and all, on how to improve their scores.
How to collect antiques
Nov. 5, 2018—Murray Hudson, PhD’69, offers tips on collecting, caring for and donating historical printed material.
How to prepare kids for back-to-school
Aug. 6, 2018—Cicely Woodard, MEd’03, the 2018 Tennessee Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year, offers several tips for helping kids get back into the school routine.
How to navigate a nutritious diet
Jun. 8, 2018—A registered dietitian, Jamie Pope says nutritional guidelines should reflect current science, but be livable and practical. “We need to be honest with ourselves about which healthy lifestyles are possible and sustainable for us,” she says.