The Vanderbilt Story

From Memphis, Tennessee, Ryan McKenney is head resident of Gillette House on The Commons as well as a VUceptor, director of first-year relations for Vanderbilt Student Government, a member of Delta Tau Delta, an Ingram Scholar and a new member of Common Denominators. McKenney also works with Best Buddies, Next… Read More

An avid reader and lover of fantasy novels, Vanderbilt senior Dean Balaes decided there was no better way to channel his passion than to write a book. His first novel, “The Rise of the Ancients,” was published electronically with Amazon online this fall and follows the adventures of a modern-day… Read More

Danielle Snyder headed to New York City to pursue a career in fashion after graduating from Vanderbilt in 2007. After a few years, she and her sister Jodie co-founded the jewelry line DANNIJO that is now sold in department stores around the world, but Nashville still remains in her heart. Read More

While growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Dan Stephenson, CEO and founder of Dan’s Gourmet Mac & Cheese, loved nothing more than experimenting in the kitchen with his brother. Six years after graduating a semester early from Vanderbilt in 2006, with a degree in economics and corporate strategy, Stphenson was able… Read More

Commodore pole vaulter becomes third woman to qualify for American Ninja Warrior Read More

While patient care is an important part of the careers of the majority of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine graduates, some find that they can make the greatest leadership contributions in non-clinical roles. “The solid foundation that these graduates have received in the art and science of medicine allows them… Read More

Senior Anna Watt carries a large yellow diesel can around campus, raising funds to bring clean water to the Sahel region in Africa Read More

Rivka Ihejirika is a third-year medical student from Los Angeles. She is the recipient of the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship and the James Edward Holloran Scholarship, established by the Class of 1980. Read More

In this VUCast: See a trauma physician's innovative way to stop bullying; why your brain only needs a little junk food to be satisfied; and two reason why Vanderbilt is happy. Watch now! Read More

While most Vanderbilt students were tucked away in cubicles, taking summer classes or catching up on sleep, senior Ted Moock spent his summer shooting takes through the night with the cast of “Pitch Perfect 2” and sharing fondue with the film’s star, Anna Kendrick. Read More

Before Adam Butler was a happy-go-lucky starting SEC defensive lineman, there was a two-year period in which he didn’t think football would even be in his future. Read More

For the past three years, Anne Alukonis and Emma “Auntie” Jean have been the faces of Last Drop Coffee Shop, serving up encouragement and banter alongside caffeine. However, this year Alukonis, affectionately known by students as Ms. Anne, will no longer be at Last Drop. Read More

Vanderbilt's first-year students came from all over the country and the world to move into The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons. Relive the magic of Move In 2014. Read More

Perseverance is a trait ingrained in Madeline Myers. In January the 2011 graduate of the Blair School of Music won the first Ken Davenport Songwriting Contest in New York City. The contest, sponsored by Davenport, who produced the 2013 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, Kinky Boots, served as a showcase… Read More

One hundred years ago pilot Tony Jannus made history when he flew a biplane from Tampa, Fla., to neighboring St. Petersburg. By all accounts the flight itself was unremarkable. There were no speed or distance records broken that day, nor feats of aerial acrobatics. In fact, the plane was in… Read More

Like the vineyards that produce the classic vintages she adores, Amy Christine Ellis’ palate has been carefully cultivated for years. Recently, she was named a master of wine by the Institute of Masters of Wine—one of only 312 people to hold that title worldwide, and one of only 10 women… Read More

A disappointing court decision led attorney Piper Hendricks to an unusual change of career—documentary filmmaking—with a little help from a nun. “I was working in international human rights litigation,” recalls Hendricks, “and was handling cases against corporations, including one against [a tire manufacturer] for using child labor in Liberia. It… Read More

StyleBlueprint.com profiles 2012 Vanderbilt University Distinguished Alumna Nora Tyson, BA’79, and her rise to vice admiral and deputy commander of United States Fleet Forces Command. Read More

Steven Smartt, BME’71, MME’72—associate dean for academic services in the Graduate School, assistant provost for research, and assistant professor of the practice of education—leads a parallel life. A trumpet player since elementary school, the Nashville native earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Peabody College. He… Read More

By Andrea McDermott Sanders, MEd’06 “We are looking for a student to tutor our son. …” So began an email blast that went out to all Peabody graduate students Sept. 13, 2004. Dr. Anderson Spickard, MD’89, a physician in Vanderbilt University’s internal medicine and public health department, and his… Read More