Spring 2021
American Soundtrack: A look inside the National Museum of African American Music
Apr. 27, 2021—Communication is at the heart of the partnership between NMAAM and Vanderbilt. The museum officially opened this year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the doors now are open to ideas for acquisitions, guest lecturers, panel discussions, classes and performances.
‘Possible’: A poem by Carlina Duan, MFA’19
Apr. 27, 2021—A poem by Carlina Duan, MFA'19, the author of 'I Wore My Blackest Hair' (Little A, 2017) and the upcoming 'Alien Miss' (University of Wisconsin Press, 2021).
Support the Class of 2021
Apr. 26, 2021—As alumni, we can help graduating Commodores prepare for the new chapter in their lives by encouraging and supporting them with mentorship and internship and job opportunities. Let’s show the Class of 2021 what it means to be Vanderbilt for Life.
Melvyn Semmel, EdD’63, Special Education Pioneer
Apr. 26, 2021—Melvyn Ivan Semmel of Santa Barbara, Calif., a researcher, educator and 2007 Peabody Distinguished Alumnus, who helped shape the nation’s understanding and policies relating to students with disabilities, died Feb. 25.
Patricia Frist, BA’61, Philanthropist and Community Leader
Apr. 22, 2021—Patricia Gail “Trish” Champion Frist, BA’61, of Nashville, who had a great impact as a philanthropist and business advocate, died Jan. 5.
Parental Perspective: Parents Abby and Jon Winkelried offer valuable insights for Vanderbilt leaders
Apr. 22, 2021—Abby and Jon became involved in the Parents Leadership Committee, later serving as co-chairs for the 2011–2012 Vanderbilt Parents Campaign. Jon, now a Vanderbilt trustee who is co-CEO of TPG Capital and the former co-president of Goldman Sachs, joined the Board of Trust in 2012.
Gene Back, BMus’06, BAFTA Breakthrough Talent
Apr. 22, 2021—Last November, alumnus Gene Back’s growing list of accomplishments caught the attention of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. The organization, which promotes the art of motion pictures on both sides of the Atlantic, selected him as a Breakthrough Talent.
Christopher Tuff, BS’03, Millennial Connections
Apr. 22, 2021—Alumnus Christopher Tuff, author of bestseller 'The Millennial Whisperer,' says this generation wants to matter to their employers, and they want their work to matter too. Understanding this dynamic results in business tactics that cost zero dollars and provide big paybacks.
Scrum Masters: Vanderbilt’s Rugby Football Club marks 50 years of competition and camaraderie
Apr. 22, 2021—It started as a Yorkshireman’s attempt to bring something of home to Nashville. More than 50 years later, the Vanderbilt University Rugby Football Club has roots of its own.
Financial Markets Research Center renamed for Hans Stoll
Apr. 22, 2021—Thomas Peterffy of Interactive Brokers, whose philanthropic support endowed the Financial Markets Research Center in 2003, recently renamed it the Hans Stoll Financial Markets Research Center in memory of its founder. Stoll, a pioneer in the field and longtime director of the center who passed away in 2020, was emeritus professor of finance and former holder of the Anne Marie and Thomas B. Walker Jr. Chair of Finance at Owen.
Last Call: Legendary burger joint Rotier’s closes after 75 years
Apr. 22, 2021—After 75 years, an unofficial Vanderbilt institution has vanished. Rotier’s, originally opened in 1945 and famous for its cheeseburger served on french bread (not to mention its cold beer), closed in March after struggling as a result of the pandemic.
Thomas G. Burton, MA’58, PhD’66, Serpents and Stories
Apr. 22, 2021—A profile of Graduate School alumnus Thomas G. Burton, whose book 'The Serpent and the Spirit' was the basis for the recent HBO documentary 'Alabama Snake.'