Commencement

During his college search, Jarryd Bethea sought an institution that would combine great academics, strong school spirit, and a community where he could make an impact. He found that and more at Vanderbilt. Read More

Evan Suzman, a cross country runner for the Commodores, likes to clear his mind with long, winding runs across campus. Off the course, the native New Yorker is a double major in history and child development, with a focus on the history of science. Read More

Rama Kumaran initially intended to study both science and flute when he came to Vanderbilt. He says he didn’t come expecting to know everything. “But I expected to do everything," he says. Read More

Bill-Kande Badi never imagined he’d pursue a career in film when he traveled more than 8,500 miles from his hometown of Pretoria, South Africa, to study at Vanderbilt. But then he signed up for Cinema and Media Arts courses and “fell in love with making movies.” Read More

Vanderbilt’s Commencement 2019 is May 8–10, and your help is needed to make the event a success. This year, volunteer registration will take place through InItLive, a cloud-based volunteer management system that allows you to sign up, manage shifts and communicate with key staff before, during and after Commencement. Read More

Scott A. Tierno, a higher education administrator with significant experience in leading major campus initiatives, has been named director of Commencement and special events. Read More

Venus Williams—an international tennis champion, entrepreneur and author—will receive the Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal in May 2019, when she addresses graduating seniors at Vanderbilt and their families. Read More

The School of Engineering's Cynthia B. Paschal has been appointed as the next university marshal, and she answered five questions about her new role. Read More

Acknowledging that their Vanderbilt degrees will grant 2018 graduates a wide range of options, Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos offered up five specific ways to use their education for good. 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

Nearly 4,000 graduates from 76 countries are being awarded 36 different degrees during Vanderbilt's 2017 Commencement on Friday, May 12. Read More

For the first time, graduating Vanderbilt seniors could recycle their regalia following this year's Commencement. Read More

Animals at the Nashville Zoo and Walden’s Puddle recently enjoyed taking part in a bit of Vanderbilt tradition when the university donated strawberries left over from Commencement to the two organizations. Read More

Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos awarded the top scholars from each of the university’s undergraduate and professional schools Friday, May 13. 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

University Central faculty and staff members are asked to do their part in helping create as many parking spaces as possible for Commencement guests next Friday, May 13. Read More

Preparations are underway for Commencement 2016, scheduled for May 11-13, and many details of the three-day event are available on the newly re-launched Commencement website. 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