Diversity

Biomedical researchers across Vanderbilt University will convene to discuss the history and impact of Black biomedical scientists on Monday, Feb. 15, at noon CT. Read More

The Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion will host a panel of Vanderbilt faculty, staff and students to share their personal and professional views and experiences on issues that inform “This Moment in America.” The virtual discussion is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 1 p.m. CT and is open to the Vanderbilt community. Read More

The Center for Latin American Studies will host the fifth annual Haiti Week at Vanderbilt University. Virtual programs will feature scholars from Vanderbilt and The City College of New York–CUNY, and explore Haitian history, music, culture, literature, language and more. Read More

LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter and a fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, will give Vanderbilt’s 13th annual Murray Lecture on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Read More

Nominations are open until Friday, March 5, for the Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion's 2020–21 Diversity Leadership Awards. The awards recognize staff members who demonstrate exemplary leadership by putting the ideals of equity, diversity and inclusion into practical action. Read More

Dr. André L. Churchwell, vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer for both Vanderbilt University and Medical Center, was invited to write an essay for “Harvard Medicine,” the alumni magazine of his alma mater. Churchwell reflects on the prejudices he faced as a Black man in Boston in the late 1970s, and the lessons learned from his parents that guided his and his siblings’ success in life and careers in medicine. Read More

Prominent scholars Cornel West and Victor Anderson will participate in a virtual event, “Race, Faith and American Democracy: A Conversation,” on Friday, Feb. 5, from noon to 1 p.m. CT as part of Vanderbilt University’s celebration of Black History Month. Read More

Vanderbilt’s annual celebration of Black History Month—a time to acknowledge and appreciate the history, experience and accomplishments of Black people on the university's campus, across the country and globally—will include presentations, panel discussions, play readings, yoga sessions and more, most to be held virtually. Read More

The Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center is partnering with student organizations and campus leaders to celebrate the start of Black History Month on Monday, Feb. 1. Read More

Vanderbilt Professor of Art Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons says her vision for "When We Gather," a new film and art project, was influenced by remarks from Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman and first woman of color to serve in that role. The online premiere for the three-minute film, which pays tribute to heroines of the past, visionaries of the present and leaders of the future, will be on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 6 p.m. CT. Read More

Pain, healing and resilience are themes woven into Nashville artist Ashley Mintz’s new online exhibit supported by Vanderbilt Divinity School. The visual collection, "Resilient Souls: We Rest Then We Rise," will run in a fully virtual format Feb. 1–March 12 in celebration and reflection of Black History Month. Read More

Heard Libraries staff contributed to and improved the quality of Wikipedia information on Nashville-area social justice organizations and activists when they took part in a voluntary edit-a-thon on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Read More

Author Alice Randall, writer in residence in African American and Diaspora Studies, will discuss her new book, "Black Bottom Saints," during a virtual event on Thursday, Feb. 4. The event, open to all faculty, staff and alumni, will begin at 5 p.m. CT and be conducted via Zoom. Read More

Ruth Shim, the Luke and Grace Kim Professor in Cultural Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California–Davis School of Medicine, will deliver Vanderbilt’s Harold Jordan Lecture Celebrating Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice on Friday, Feb. 5. Read More

Ashley Brown, who has strong experience in social justice education and student engagement, has been named the new director of the Student Center for Social Justice and Identity. Read More

Franklin Ellis Jr., who has devoted his career in higher education to helping students of diverse backgrounds and identities succeed at the university level, is the new director of the Vanderbilt Posse Scholar Program. Read More

Ethiopian American novelist Dinaw Mengestu gave an impassioned personal view of growing up in an immigrant family in the United States during his keynote address for this year’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative event, hosted in partnership with the Vanderbilt Chancellor’s Lecture Series. Read More

Only 18.67 percent of Wikipedia biographies are about women. The Women of VISE are holding the third annual Women in STEM Wikithon to change that. Read More

Learn about the various ways unconscious bias may have an impact on decision-making involving hiring, promotion, performance, communication and leadership during upcoming “Disrupting Everyday Bias” workshops. Read More

Vanderbilt leaders are reflecting on the life and legacy of veteran civil rights activist Kwame Lillard, who died Dec. 20 in Nashville. As recently as January 2020, Lillard shared his firsthand experiences in the civil rights movement with Vanderbilt students as part of the university’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Series. Read More