Commencement 2017

America's historian Ken Burns spoke with Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos about his four decades of filmmaking, the lessons he's learned and what's coming next for "The Zeppos Report." Read More

In his message to the class of 2017 at Commencement last Friday, Jeff Balser, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM), spoke of challenges caused by the rapid pace of change in health care and eroding public trust in the U.S. health care system. Read More

On Tuesday, Vanderbilt hosted an "alternative graduation" for a dozen student-athletes who missed last week's Commencement ceremonies due to athletic obligations. Read More

Linda Norman, DSN, R.N., Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN) and Valere Potter Menefee Professor of Nursing, told the Class of 2017 during Investiture ceremonies last week that they have chosen to become nurses at the best point in history. Read More

When Allison Norlander was visiting biomedical science graduate programs in 2011, she nearly crossed Vanderbilt off her list before she even visited. After six interview trips, she was worn out. 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 reminded graduates at Vanderbilt’s Commencement May 12 that the university, the faculty and their classmates will continue to have an enduring influence on their lives. Read More

It was a double celebration at Vanderbilt University’s Commencement for alumnus Jim Cheshire. He marched in the procession May 12 along with other members of the Class of 1967 to mark the 50th anniversary of his graduation. His granddaughter Rachel Riendeau marched as well, receiving her bachelor’s degree along with 1,736 other members of the Class of 2017. Read More

Watch video of the Vanderbilt Peabody College commencement ceremony for graduate and professional students on May 12, 2017. Read More

Thirty-two retiring faculty members were recognized during Vanderbilt’s Commencement ceremony May 12, when the university honored their years of service and bestowed on them the title of emeritus or emerita faculty. Read More

Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos awarded the top scholars from each of the university’s undergraduate and professional schools with Founder’s Medals during Commencement on Friday, May 12. Read More

Acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns spoke to graduating Vanderbilt seniors during Senior Day and was awarded the Nichols-Chancellor's Medal. Read More

Commencement begins at 9 a.m. Friday, May 12. Read More

Ro Coleman would be wise to bring a box of Kleenex with him to Commencement. “When I walk across that stage and see that piece of paper,” Coleman said, “that’s when I might break down.” Read More

During her pre-med studies as a student-athlete at Vanderbilt, Georgina Sellyn spent hours shadowing doctors at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. That experience helped the fifth-year senior on the Commodore tennis team develop an affinity for surgery. Read More

When Akaninyene Ruffin was announced as Vanderbilt’s Outstanding Senior for 2016-17 during Homecoming last fall, it marked a long journey from freshman year, when she struggled to make friends and suspected her African American heritage rendered her invisible to some of her peers. Read More

Moving a mile and a half of PVC pipe along unpaved, winding roads in a small pickup truck—in a foreign country, no less—is no easy task. Ryan Sullivan, known as “Sully” to his professors and friends, knows this firsthand. 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

When Jacob Schultz learned the U.S. Navy had awarded him a prestigious Health Professions Scholarship to medical school, he didn’t tell his family—at least not immediately. Four days later, Schultz, a senior snapper on Vanderbilt’s football team, also learned he’d been accepted into Vanderbilt’s School of Medicine. Read More