David Williams

Faculty proposals for micro-grant funding are due May 21 to support research and curricular enrichment on topics related to sports and society in areas including race, law, gender and more. Read More

In the coming weeks, Vanderbilt student-athletes and staffers will participate in several volunteer opportunities for the first time at Nashville's Buena Vista Elementary School, a unique chance for the Commodores to make an impact in the Nashville community. Read More

The Tennessee General Assembly unanimously passed a joint resolution honoring the memory of Vanderbilt alumnus Perry Wallace on April 11. Wallace, who grew up in North Nashville, integrated Vanderbilt varsity basketball in 1966 and made history on Dec. 2, 1967, as the first African American basketball player to compete in a varsity game in the Southeastern Conference. Read More

The Horvitz YouthAbility program, a Cleveland organization that serves disabled and at-risk youth, has made a donation to the Perry E. Wallace Basketball Scholarship after its members read Wallace's biography and visited Nashville to walk in his footsteps. Read More

By Andrew Maraniss, BA’92 “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Perry Wallace, who through quiet strength and courage blazed a trail that still serves as a lesson in resilience and perseverance in the face of incredible obstacles. We are more fortunate for having known him and for… Read More

The extraordinary courage that Distinguished Alumnus Perry Wallace displayed as the SEC's first African American basketball player was remembered during a celebration of life service Feb. 19. Read More

Vanderbilt alumnus and civil rights trailblazer Perry Wallace has been honored with a new scholarship that will provide support for student-athletes at the university. Read More

Jelani Cobb, a Columbia University professor who has written extensively on race and injustice, spoke at Vanderbilt Jan. 17 on the deep significance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy for those seeking to understand and respond to recent divisive political developments. Read More

As sports continues to serve as an important venue for spotlighting societal issues, Vanderbilt University Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos has unveiled plans for a new academic center to explore the intersection of sports, race, gender and culture in society. Read More

Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletics Director David Williams has been named the 2017 Tennessean of the Year by the "Tennessee Tribune," Nashville’s African American newspaper. Read More

Perry Wallace, BE’70, the Vanderbilt University student-athlete who integrated Southeastern Conference varsity basketball, died Dec. 1. He was 69. Read More

Former Tennessee Titans stars Chris Sanders and Chris Hope will be joined by Vanderbilt basketball record-setter Shan Foster for a panel discussion Friday, Dec. 8, titled “Life After Sports: Giving Back.” Vice Chancellor and Athletics Director David Williams will moderate the event at Vanderbilt's McGugin Center. Read More

Vanderbilt students got a sneak preview of the documentary film "Triumph: The Untold Story of Perry Wallace" on Nov. 8, when Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos welcomed the students and others to the Wednesday night showing at the Belcourt Theatre near campus. Read More

When I think of Vanderbilt, my mind immediately goes to my friends and classmates. But what about alumni from the graduate and professional schools, staff and faculty members, sports fans, even prospective students? Each one of these individuals helps make the Vanderbilt community a special place filled with smart, capable people willing to lend a hand when needed. Read More

Equality Weekend, a three-day event that honored 21 of Nashville’s civil rights leaders, celebrated the 50th anniversary of Vanderbilt’s breaking the SEC color barrier with men’s basketball players Perry Wallace, BE’70, and Godfrey Dillard. The 21 leaders were honored at the Commodore men’s basketball game Feb. 18 and the women’s game Feb. 19—both of which were Vanderbilt victories. Read More

As part of Black History Month, Vanderbilt’s basketball teams suited up in specially made jerseys for their winning games on Feb. 18 and 19. The back of each uniform featured the name of an individual who played an influential role in the civil rights movement. Read More

Last month, Vanderbilt Athletics announced plans to send 11 student-athletes on study abroad trips that will be funded solely by the department. For David Williams II, Vanderbilt’s vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletics director, the opportunity is part of what makes Vanderbilt a unique destination for student-athletes. Read More

Vanderbilt will co-host the 2021 NCAA Regional Championship for Division I men’s golf—the latest in a string of NCAA and SEC events the university has helped bring to Middle Tennessee. Read More

To show their appreciation for Head Coach Tim Corbin and their confidence in the continued success of the Vanderbilt Baseball program, many of his former players—an impressive 60 percent of them, in fact—as well as a number of other donors, recently contributed to a $12 million fundraising effort to support the construction of new baseball facilities at the university. Read More

After playing in only three bowl games during its first century of football, Vanderbilt has now reached the postseason five times in the past nine seasons—most recently at the Independence Bowl played Dec. 26, 2016, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Read More