Vanderbilt View

Watch a video of the kickoff to the Osher Lifelong Learning’s fall programming. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is an organization that offers non-credit courses which allow students to benefit from invigorating lectures and discussions in an informal, supportive and relaxed environment.     … Read More

As the nation’s health care system undergoes unprecedented challenges, Melinda Buntin’s appointment as chair of Vanderbilt’s new Department of Health Policy couldn’t come at a better time. Read More

Despite Mitt Romney’s dominant performance in the first presidential debate, President Obama’s favorability rating has been hovering around 50 percent, not enough deterioration to turn the election around for the challenger. Read More

The Ingram Commons’ first class graduates First-year students and faculty heads of house gathered at The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons in August 2008 for their first-ever class photo. The taking of a class photo each year has become an Ingram Commons tradition. (John Russell/Vanderbilt) On a bright spring day… Read More

Senior Nate Marshall’s passion for poetry helped him find his voice – and his calling Nate Marshall is all about the words. He started writing poetry in grammar school, and in the eighth grade, when a poem he wrote got him detention, Marshall realized two things: His words could have… Read More

Video of Senior Day with Tom Brokaw and of Commencement will be streamed live on the Vanderbilt homepage. Three days of activities enrich the Commencement experience For many graduating seniors, Commencement passes in a blur of gowns and camera flashes and choreography. Add emotional parents, excitement –… Read More

The Owen Graduate School of Management’s David Owens examines why some great innovations fail “Creative people must be stopped!”  We may not actually hear these words spoken aloud in the weekly staff meeting, but sometimes it feels like an underlying corporate message. In many work groups, innovative ideas are aggressively… Read More

Thousands of chairs line Alumni Lawn in anticipation of Commencement day. (Steve Green/Vanderbilt) The other day, my friend Kelly mentioned something about attending her son’s graduation before she and her family leave for summer vacation. I did a double take. Graduation? Our sons are the same age. They’re in… Read More

Abkowitz (Vanderbilt) Mark Abkowitz, professor of civil and environmental engineering, has received the Vanderbilt Alumni Association’s Alumni Education Award, given annually to a faculty member who has contributed significantly to Vanderbilt Alumni Association education programs. Bess (Vanderbilt) Kimberly Bess, assistant professor of human and organizational development, has received… Read More

Madison Sarratt (image courtesy of Vanderbilt University Special Collections & University Archives) Sarratt Student Center, undergoing its first major renovation in more than a decade, has been a hub of campus activity since it opened in 1974. Perhaps unknown to today’s students is the man for whom… Read More

Rocky Alvey (John Russell/Vanderbilt) Around the time Rocky Alvey turned 52, he decided he was going to write one song per week for a year. So he did. Mostly in his truck. Commuting usually isn’t the most rewarding part of anyone’s day, but Alvey’s journey between home and… Read More

College Halls at Kissam is building a better campus learning environment An artist's rendering of the view of College Halls from the Kirkland Esplanade entrance. (Vanderbilt University) Updated June 1: Scroll down to watch video of the first dorm being demolished. Vanderbilt’s Commencement, scheduled this year for… Read More

Blair Big Band plays from the heart Billy Adair conducts the Blair Big Band ensemble. (John Russell/Vanderbilt) In the practice hall at Blair School of Music, a velvety voice is crooning Irving Berlin’s “Let’s Face the Music and Dance.” Jubilant trumpets, a sizzling beat and funky, thumping… Read More

VUPD’s self-defense class empowers women to protect themselves Participants in the R.A.D. class wear protective gear while learning self-defense techniques. (John Russell/Vanderbilt) “Block! Snap-kick! Strike! Ready!” The commands are shouted and the moves are executed with swift precision. This isn’t a room full of black belts – it’s the… Read More

Amy-Jill Levine explores the shared heritage of Christianity and Judaism Amy-Jill Levine (Daniel Dubois/Vanderbilt) Amy-Jill Levine was always fascinated by Christianity. She recalls singing Christmas carols in public school in North Dartmouth, Mass.; joining friends to trim Christmas trees and hunt for Easter eggs. Then a schoolmate accused her,… Read More

Kissam will be a construction zone for two years starting May 14. (John Russell/Vanderbilt) For a short time, there was a rumor going around the office that took water cooler chatter to an all-time high. The six dormitories at Kissam Quadrangle would be blown up the day… Read More

L-r: Carl Seyfert, Board of Trust Chairman W.L. Hemingway, Arthur J. Dyer and Chancellor Harvie Branscomb on the observatory grounds circa 1952. Image courtesy of Vanderbilt University Special Collections & University Archives Vanderbilt alumnus Arthur J. Dyer came from humble beginnings but rose to prominence as one of Nashville’s… Read More

Leonard Folgarait, professor of history of art, delivered the keynote address on Mexican photography at the Art History Graduate Student Symposium held at Duke University. Nancy Godleski has been named assistant dean for collections at Central Library. Previously, Godleski was the Kaplanoff Librarian for American History and American Studies at… Read More

Lindsey Huddleston (John Russell/Vanderbilt) Sometimes a gust of wind topples a vase and shatters it. Sometimes the wedding officiant is late. Sometimes attendants are uncooperative, family members are estranged, and there are crayon-covered floors or gooey chafing dishes to be scrubbed. Lindsey Huddleston, co-owner of dandyLion alternative… Read More

Teach Twice shares stories from other cultures to create opportunities for change L-r: Whitley O’Connor, Grace Appert, David Schroeder, Trevor Burbank, Dan Litzow, Grace Stearns and Caroline Martin are members of the Teach Twice team. (Joe Howell/Vanderbilt) What do those in developing countries – where poverty is widespread and… Read More