2023 Vanderbilt Commencement

May 12, 2023 Parents, families and friends…esteemed faculty…trustees, valued alumni and dedicated staff…and, of course, our graduates: Welcome to the Commencement ceremony for the Vanderbilt Class of 2023! This year, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Vanderbilt’s founding. And you, graduates, are part of an unbroken chain… Read More

Approximately 4,498 students graduated from Vanderbilt during the 2022–23 academic year, including approximately 2,689 people receiving graduate and professional degrees. Read More

Maria Ressa, an internationally acclaimed journalist who was awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for exposing government corruption and human rights violations in her native Philippines and for defending free and accurate speech worldwide, called on the Vanderbilt Class of 2023 to seek truth and facts despite the “toxic sludge” of misinformation manipulating social media. Read More

Due to inclement weather forecasted for the Vanderbilt University area today, the undergraduate Commencement ceremony will move to Bridgestone Arena, 501 Broadway, in downtown Nashville. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. CT and will be livestreamed on the university’s Commencement website at vu.edu/commencement. Due to timing constraints, graduate and professional school graduates are being asked to only attend their degree-specific ceremonies on campus. Their respective schools and colleges will alert them if their ceremony details change. Read More

Vanderbilt student-athletes in the Class of 2023 showcase collaboration, leadership and integrity in the classroom and on the field of play. Read More

Class of 2023: Read how NCAA bowling champion and National Player of the Year Mabel Cummins is using her intellect and competitive spirit in neuroscience and medicine. Read More

Class of 2023: Read how Thomas Schultz, VandyBoys pitcher and double major in human and organizational development and medicine, health and society thrives with humility on and off the field. Read More

Class of 2023: Read how Commodores defensive lineman Nate Clifton found confidence in the classroom and on the field. Read More

Class of 2023: Read how basketball powerhouse Marnelle Garraud combined her leadership and collaboration skills to thrive in the Owen Graduate School of Management. Read More

Maria A. Ressa, an internationally acclaimed journalist who has endured political threats and government arrests for her commitment to truth and democracy, will receive Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal when she speaks to the university’s graduating students and their families on May 11 during 2023 Commencement activities. Vanderbilt is honoring the Class of 2023 with a series of events May 11–12. Read More

Meet some members of the Class of 2023 who bring a unique global perspective to the Vanderbilt community. Read More

Class of 2023: Read about Bangkok, Thailand native Pai Masavisut and how he tackles the challenging academic concentration of prison and carceral studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School.  Read More

Class of 2023: Grace Locke’s desire to better understand the immigration system and people fleeing their homelands, along with her gift for multiple languages, has uniquely positioned the political science and Spanish double major to make an impact.  Read More

Class of 2023: The day Vanessa Ajeh was born in a Nigerian hospital, both she and her mother almost died due to the hospital’s lack of advanced medical resources and training for its staff. That terrifying start to her life is the touchstone propelling Ajeh, a medicine, health and society and Spanish double major, to be a changemaker in her community and pursue a future career in neonatal medicine. Read More

Class of 2023: Lucy Kim came from South Korea with the goal of earning a Ph.D. in English. Read about the powerful impact she's had while helping hundreds of students find their voice at Vanderbilt’s Writing Studio. Read More

Meet some members of the Class of 2023 who are pursuing unique and impactful paths with enthusiasm, intellect and a strong vision. Read More

Volunteer for 2023 Commencement. The university has various volunteer opportunities still available for the Class of 2023’s main and undergraduate ceremonies on Friday, May 12.  Read More

Meet some members of the Class of 2023 whose inspired collaborations—within Vanderbilt, across the Nashville community and beyond—are making the world better.  Read More

Class of 2023: See how Kavya Sharman is using the rich experiences and connections she’s cultivated as an undergraduate and graduate student in the School of Medicine Basic Sciences to build bridges between biotechnology and business. Read More

Class of 2023: See how Mary Cayten Brakefield using her experiences with physical illness to inform and inspire her namesake fashion business focused on accessible and inclusive universal design. Read More