Commencement

Joshua McGuire, BMus’03 and principal senior lecturer in musicianship at Blair School of Music, has been named the new university marshal for Vanderbilt’s Commencement ceremony. Read More

The clock is ticking down as Vanderbilt quickly approaches a major milestone—Commencement is officially less than 100 days away. The undergraduate Class of 2025 will have a familiar backdrop for their May 9 Commencement ceremony: GEODIS Park. Home to Nashville SC, GEODIS Park is the largest soccer-specific stadium in the U.S. and Canada—and it’s only four miles from campus. Read More

In celebration of our graduates, Graduates Day will take place on Thursday, May 8. Vanderbilt University Commencement will be held on Friday, May 9.   Read More

Since Vanderbilt’s founding in 1873, campus traditions have evolved as the university has grown. Here are a few favorites that highlight community, belonging and history at the university.  Read More

Vanderbilt University’s undergraduate Class of 2024 undergraduate will have a unique backdrop for their May 10 Commencement ceremony: Geodis Park. Read More

"Spring Procession," a poem by Didi Jackson, assistant professor of English, read at Vanderbilt's Sesquicentennial launch in March. Read More

The spirit of “daring to grow” is inherent to our Vanderbilt way of life, and it extends to every member of our community. It is behind every groundbreaking discovery made by our faculty members, whether in the laboratory, clinic or conference room or within a single line of music or stroke of paint. It lives among our coaches and student-athletes as they continually raise the bar for their own accomplishments. It is exemplified by our staff members, whose dedication to our collaborative culture of excellence helps to create the environment in which we all thrive. And it is especially present among our alumni as they help one another to strive for, and achieve, new ambitions. At Vanderbilt, we learn for life. Read More

“Dare to Grow” Commencement Address by Chancellor Daniel Diermeier Vanderbilt University May 13, 2022 To graduates of the Class of 2022; to parents, families and guests; to members of the faculty and the Board of Trust; to our staff volunteers and to graduates from the Class of… Read More

The 2020–21 academic year in many ways was defined by urgency and imminent priorities—from the rapid implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols and weekly testing to the procurement of technology required for hybrid teaching and the herculean planning behind the two in-person Commencement ceremonies we hosted this spring, to name just a few. I remain inspired by the way our community responded to these challenges with such profound resilience and innovative problem-solving. Read More

We are excited to announce that the university will hold in-person Commencement ceremonies May 15–16 for the Class of 2021, Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and Provost Susan R. Wente wrote in a message to this year's graduates. Read More

We are excited to announce that the university will hold in-person Commencement ceremonies May 1–2 for the Class of 2020, Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and Provost Susan R. Wente wrote in a message to last year's graduates. Read More

Vanderbilt Magazine raises a glass of its own to the tenacious, accomplished and always adaptable Class of 2020. Cheers to you all. Read More

At a time when we are physically separate, the connections embodied by our One Vanderbilt community have become even more vital. Read More

Caruso graduated with his Ph.D. in philosophy in 2016, and today he uses what he learned to teach ethics to medical school students. Read More

Damp weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of Class of 2017 members on Friday, May 12, when Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos presided over Commencement exercises and nearly 4,000 undergraduates, graduate and professional students received diplomas. Read More

Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos will deliver Vanderbilt University’s Commencement address May 12, the day after filmmaker Ken Burns accepts a prestigious Vanderbilt award and offers his advice. Read More

Elizabeth Ennis, Graduate School, Gregory LaChaud, School of Medicine, and Amy Bonau, School of Nursing, are among those taking part in Commencement exercises on Friday, May 13. Read More

The Commencement ceremony capped two days of activities for graduates and their guests, including the Senior Day speech by Walter Isaacson, author and former chairman and CEO of CNN. In all, the university awarded 1,644 undergraduate and 2,212 graduate and professional degrees this year. Read More

See highlights from Commencement, and learn how the Class of 2015 celebrated its special day. Read More