Vanderbilt Magazine

Photo by John Russell Turning 21 seemed like it was going to be a big deal. After all, I was finally reaching the governmental “go-ahead” that teenagers and college students across the country seem to long for. And yet April 24, 2008, turned out to be nothing special–only a… Read More

In 1962 my decision to apply to Vanderbilt School of Engineering made little or no sense. I had grown up in Savannah, Ga., and knew little about Vanderbilt and even less about Nashville–except that the city was named for my ancestor Francis Nash. When I informed my high school guidance… Read More

John Geer Christian Grose Bruce Oppenheimer Mitchell Seligson Neal Tate Photos by John Russell and Steve Green The economy is floundering. The housing industry is in crisis. Gas and energy prices are skyrocketing. The country is faced with immigration issues, burgeoning debt, an unpopular war,… Read More

Methodist Bishop Holland McTyeire, left, envisioned a Vanderbilt inspired by church values. Chancellor James Kirkland wanted a nonsectarian university. “Who controls Vanderbilt University?” “Who founded Vanderbilt–northern money or southern Methodists?” A century ago fierce questions about the status of Vanderbilt inflamed debate across the South. And the way they… Read More

  Vanderbilt lacrosse finished the season with a school-record 13 victories and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Photo by Steve Green. Football: NFL Draftees and 2008 Team Captains The Chicago Bears took two Commodores in the NFL draft: Offensive lineman Chris Williams, BS’07, was the 14th pick in the… Read More

Photo by John Russell On the banks of the Cumberland River, overlooking the practice facility of the Tennessee Titans, sits Chip’s Place. And at Chip’s Place you’ll find Chip Healy, ’68, former All-American linebacker for the Commodores and a two-year veteran of the old St. Louis Cardinals professional football… Read More

After posting four Top 10 finishes, Jon Curran was selected to compete in the 2008 NCAA East Region Championship.Photo by John Russell. Jon Curran was in a rut. It was Feb. 19, 2008, and he had just completed his final round at the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational, where… Read More

It’s official. Vanderbilt is putting its money where its athletic needs are. In a continuing effort to raise the level of sports competition, the university has announced a five-phase, multimillion-dollar renovation and building program. The project has received enthusiastic support from across the university. John Ingram, MBA’86, is a… Read More

Thomas Schwartz, professor of history, has received the Faculty Alumni Education Award, presented by the Alumni Association Board of Directors last November. First given in 1982, the award includes a prize of $2,500 and an engraved julep cup. Since 2003, Schwartz has lectured at nine alumni education events for… Read More

Click here to view a slideshow of pictures from Reunion 2007 Because of your hard work, Reunion 2007 giving surpassed its goals, providing new levels of support for Vanderbilt. In fact, the final tally was over $46 million. The generosity of the… Read More

Outfitters to Wookiees and Warlocks: Paul Bielaczyc, BS’02, MS’04 (standing), and his brother, Michael, only use their special powers for good, helping solve the age-old problem of what to wear to your next Renaissance festival or science fiction convention. The brothers create ogre masks, elf ears, faun pants, fangs,… Read More

A childhood fascination with animal behavior led Owen Jones on a path to becoming one of the country’s foremost experts in the field of law and behavioral biology. Today he is one among a handful of academics in the country holding faculty appointments in law and biology and conducting… Read More

Graduate student Karthik Subramanian keeps his eye on the birdie as president and player with the Badminton Club. Soccer: Three Named to All-SEC Team Junior Katie Schulz and freshmen Molly Kinsella and Mary Rachel Reynolds were named All-SEC players in the fall. Schulz, a midfielder, was a second-team pick… Read More

Kenny Diehl, BS’75, took to the hardwood courts of Memorial Gymnasium as Mr. Commodore in the days before mute mascots with huge foam heads and comical antics–and was one among a long line of cheerleaders who donned the chivalrous costume as the vocal leader of the Commodore faithful. Kenny… Read More

Wide receiver Earl Bennett The 2007 version of Commodore football finished with a 5-7 record, but that was good enough to earn All-SEC honors for four players and attract a suitor for the head coach. Four Commodores were named to the All-Southeastern Conference team by the league’s 12 coaches. Read More

The three faces of Mr. C are Sam Newman (in gold), Mike Fagan (in black), and a third student who prefers to hide behind the anonymity of the Commodore mask. Photo by John Russell It was quite the conundrum. Mr. Commodore, the “face” of Vanderbilt athletics, had gone missing. Read More

Sevin Awarded Germany’s Cross of the Order of Merit Dieter Sevin, professor of Germanic languages and literatures and chair of the department, has been awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. It is the only order awarded by the president of that… Read More

Vanderbilt has launched its own channel on YouTube, the wildly popular video-sharing site. The channel features a broad range of offerings, including lectures, concerts and news pieces, and content straight from the classroom. Vanderbilt is one among just a handful of universities nationally with a branded YouTube channel. Read More

Kathryn Edwards works to find a vaccine that would protect everyone from a pandemic flu. Photo by Dana Johnson Vanderbilt University Medical Center will receive nearly $24 million from the federal government over the next seven years to continue evaluating innovative vaccines for pandemic flu, malaria and other infections. Read More

In a major policy shift, Vanderbilt University Medical Center will no longer allow faculty, staff, residents or students to accept personal gifts from industry, regardless of the nature or value of the gift. The policy is a response to patient concerns nationwide that medical decisions are influenced by drug companies. “A… Read More