Dare To Grow

Vanderbilt Law School has received a $10 million commitment from Sara J. Finley, JD’85, to advance Vanderbilt Law School’s leadership in the study of how law, regulation and policy impact equality, equity and opportunity for women. The gift will be used to establish a chair and to endow a program for research, education and advocacy relating to equal rights, equal opportunity and nondiscrimination. Read More

Since the start of the academic year, Vanderbilt has witnessed a rush of “Moments That Matter”—from surpassing giving goals ahead of schedule to an exhilarating football victory over Alabama. Contributing to these hallmark moments are Vanderbilt staff, a theme that speakers reflected on throughout the 2024 Fall Staff Assembly. On Thursday, Nov. 14, more than 570 staff members packed the room at the Student Life Center for the event, which was also livestreamed for a virtual audience. Read More

More than 3,200 alumni came together on Vanderbilt’s campus from Nov. 7 to Nov. 10 for Reunion and Homecoming. The weekend schedule featured more than 85 events designed to deepen connections among alumni, provide insights on current issues and celebrate the milestone class years ending in 4 and 9.   Read More

The Dare to Grow campaign, which was launched publicly in spring 2023, has eclipsed its $3.2 billion fundraising goal 20 months ahead of its target date of June 30, 2026, underscoring the generosity of donors, widespread enthusiasm for the university’s vision and boundless potential for the future. The news is both a celebration and a call to action as Vanderbilt looks ahead to deepening its impact in Nashville, across the nation and around the world. Read More

Camilla P. Benbow has been reappointed as dean of Peabody College of education and human development for a final three-year term, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver announced today. Benbow, who is Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education and Human Development, plans to retire at the end of her 30-year deanship on June 30, 2028, which will make her the longest serving dean in Peabody College history.   Read More

Roschke, a renowned expert in media literacy and misinformation, has been named the inaugural executive director of the McGee Applied Research Center for Narrative Studies at Vanderbilt University beginning Oct. 15. Roschke will also hold a faculty appointment in the Program in Communication of Science and Technology in the College of Arts and Science. Read More

How well do you know VU? Try your hand at Vanderbilt trivia with our Dare to Grow crossword puzzle. Read More

Vanderbilt University will expand its presence, reputation and impact around the world with the appointment of its first senior director of global engagement and external partnerships. Read More

See some of the bold and collaborative actions Vanderbilt University accomplished this year an innovator and leader in solving the world’s most pressing challenges. Read More

More than 150 alumni and parent volunteers gathered on campus March 1–2 for Vanderbilt’s seventh annual Volunteer Leadership Weekend. Attendees of the weekend events included representatives from many alumni and parent groups across the university. Read More

Vanderbilt University officially launched the McGee Applied Research Center for Narrative Studies at a campus event on Feb. 7. Board of Trust members, university leaders, alumni and invited guests gathered at Rothschild College to celebrate the new interdisciplinary center, which will promote media literacy by providing resources to evaluate the objectivity of news coverage, digital media and other narratives. Read More

The Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Center for the American Presidency has launched, with the goal of exploring the presidency through an innovative, comprehensive lens. Housed within the College of Arts and Science, the center will serve as a nationally recognized hub for innovative scholarship about the workings of the presidency. Read More

The tournament, scheduled for Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, is recognized as the largest college debate competition in the world, attracting more than 400 teams from educational institutions across the globe. This is the third time Vanderbilt Debate will participate in face-to-face debates at the WUDC, having previously represented the university in 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand, and in 2022 in Madrid, Spain. The team’s participation underscores Vanderbilt’s commitment to fostering intellectual rigor and global engagement through the art of debate.  Read More

From celebrating its 150th anniversary to launching the most ambitious fundraising campaign in university history, from reaching new heights in research funding to fostering civil discourse and a culture of belonging on campus, take a look back at some of the ways Vanderbilt dared to grow this year. Read More

The Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, led by Erin Calipari, advances research to understand how addiction and substance use disorder develops in the brain. VCAR’s goals are to develop new pharmaceutical strategies and to destigmatize addiction as a personal failing. Read More

Vanderbilt has announced the addition of the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery into Discovery Vanderbilt as well as an initiative within the Dare to Grow campaign to inspire philanthropy with a one-to-one match for gifts of $100,000 or more. Read More

A landmark gift from current Vanderbilt parents Allison and Larry Berg will establish the Berg Global Artist-in-Residence program to bring visiting artists to campus, as well as two Berg Dean’s Faculty Fellowships in the College of Arts and Science. Read More

More than 3,500 alumni and their guests returned to campus for Reunion and Homecoming events Nov. 2–5, capping off a year that—by many measures—stands out as Vanderbilt’s best ever. Read More

A $6.8 million gift from an anonymous donor will support Immersion Vanderbilt and provide funding to students to carry out creative and ambitious projects that deepen their intellect and broaden their horizons. Read More

A $1.25 million pledge from the Conway-Welch Family Foundation will establish the Conway-Welch Second Degree in Nursing Scholarship at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. This milestone gift, awarded to a student enrolling in Vanderbilt’s new Master of Nursing program, was made in honor of Colleen Conway-Welch, the former dean of the school who died in 2018. Read More