Alexander Initiative

Lamar Alexander, BA’62, continues a six-decade journey on the path of public service, one that famously began with a thousand-mile trek across Tennessee in his signature red-and-black plaid shirt. However, for the Vanderbilt community, his legacy is rooted even deeper—stretching back to his days as an undergraduate, serving as editor of The Vanderbilt Hustler and a key student voice of support for racial integration at the university. Soon, a variety of activities led by the university will allow the broader community to learn more about his storied history and engage with the former Tennessee governor and U.S. senator. Read More

By Kurt Brobeck One year after the launch of Vanderbilt University’s Lamar Alexander Initiative, the Initiative recently celebrated the “graduation” of its first cohort of Fellows. Its organizers are already looking forward to welcoming a second set of Fellows this summer. The Alexander Initiative is housed within Vanderbilt Peabody… Read More

The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries’ Special Collections and University Archives has completed a long-term project to fully digitize the Lamar Alexander Papers, which document the life and work of a significant figure in Tennessee and U.S. political history. Read More

The fully-funded experience for history teachers is named for former Senator Lamar Alexander. Imagine being a high school history teacher and being given the opportunity to improve your teaching skills and classroom strategies through a one-week immersive experience featuring lectures by nationally known scholars of history and education, visits to… Read More