Divinity School

Vanderbilt University welcomes 74 new faculty across its nine schools and colleges for the 2022–23 academic year. Here, some of the university’s new faculty share their work exploring challenging topics. Read More

Members of the Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center communities are invited to attend a special “Faith and Politics” panel discussion featuring Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow. The event, which includes fellow panelists Dean Emilie M. Townes of Vanderbilt Divinity School and Professor Katherine Crawford of the College of Arts and Science, will take place Monday, Oct. 3, at 5 p.m. in Wilson Hall, Room 103. Read More

Vanderbilt University welcomes 74 new faculty across its nine schools and colleges for the 2022–23 academic year. Here, some of the professors share what inspires them in their journey of learning, discovery, problem-solving and teaching. Read More

An upcoming virtual symposium featuring noted speakers and held in celebration of the civil rights accomplishments of Kelly Miller Smith Sr. will discuss voter access and civic participation in light of this year’s midterm elections. This year’s featured speaker is Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Barack Obama Foundation and former senior advisor to President Barack Obama. Read More

Joerg Rieger, Distinguished Professor of Theology, Cal Turner Chancellor’s Chair of Wesleyan Studies and founding director of the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice, discusses why Labor Day is an opportunity to reflect on the past and future of labor while examining economic inequalities that are still prevalent. Read More

The inaugural Black Girls Becoming Summer Research Institute, held at Vanderbilt University this summer, hosted 19 rising seventh- and eighth-grade girls from Metro Nashville and as far away as Memphis for a no-cost, residential learning experience. Participants learned more about themselves and their peers through classes in science research, critical consciousness, the arts and financial literacy. Read More

The spirit of “daring to grow” is inherent to our Vanderbilt way of life, and it extends to every member of our community. It is behind every groundbreaking discovery made by our faculty members, whether in the laboratory, clinic or conference room or within a single line of music or stroke of paint. It lives among our coaches and student-athletes as they continually raise the bar for their own accomplishments. It is exemplified by our staff members, whose dedication to our collaborative culture of excellence helps to create the environment in which we all thrive. And it is especially present among our alumni as they help one another to strive for, and achieve, new ambitions. At Vanderbilt, we learn for life. Read More

In two unique courses offered by the Divinity School, students explore issues around incarceration and punishment alongside 14 death row inmates at Tennessee’s Riverbend Maximum Security Institution. Read More

Scientists will join faith leaders in conversation about finding common ground between religion and science on Thursday, June 30, from noon to 1 p.m. CT. Read More

Vanderbilt Divinity School and the James Lawson Institute for the Research and Study of Nonviolent Movements will host “Nonviolence in a Troubled World: A Time for Communal Lament, Reflection and Call to Action” on Wednesday, May 18, from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Read More

Vanderbilt Divinity School is accepting registrations for summer enrollment in its Lifelong Learning program until April 24. Early bird pricing is available through April 3. Read More

March 16 marked the one-year anniversary of the day a 21-year-old man went on a shooting rampage at three spas in the Atlanta area, killing eight people—six of them women of Asian descent. The shootings stoked outrage and fear among Asian Americans, who were already experiencing discrimination, racism and hate crimes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The act of violence led to dialogue at Vanderbilt and college campuses across the country and resulted in calls to create more inclusive spaces for AAPI populations.    Read More

The work of Nashville artists Joon Powell, Bill Steber, Dawn Majors and John Partipilo is featured in a new exhibit at Vanderbilt Divinity School titled “Nashville: A Pandemic Observed.” Students and community members will have the opportunity to attend a gallery talk featuring the artists and Vanderbilt scholars on Tuesday, March 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. Read More

Vanderbilt University has received a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help Vanderbilt Divinity School establish a project focused on educating pastoral leaders who are exploring alternative pathways in ministry, today and the future. Read More

The Rev. Teresa L. Smallwood, who helped launch Vanderbilt’s Public Theology and Racial Justice Collaborative as associate director in 2017, is moving to Pennsylvania’s United Lutheran Seminary in January. Over Smallwood’s four years at Vanderbilt Divinity School, the Collaborative has hosted nearly 30 workshops and more than 20 fellows and scholars to advance racial justice in areas ranging from medical apartheid to food equity. Read More

Rather than allowing faith to fracture our politics, it should be used as a guiding force to help unify our communities, said former two-term Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam in a virtual discussion on May 25 with Vanderbilt Divinity School Dean Rev. Emilie Townes and author and political columnist Peter Wehner. Read More

Vanderbilt’s partnership with the recently opened National Museum of African American Music promises the potential of community-building discussions involving music, race, history and storytelling. Read More

On Thursday, April 8, the Vanderbilt Divinity School will host the first of three panel discussions focused on exploring the experience of Asian and Asian American people. Read More

The Rev. James Lawson, a civil rights icon and Vanderbilt University distinguished professor, emeritus, has received the prestigious NAACP Chairman’s Award, which recognizes individuals who demonstrate exemplary public service and use their distinct platforms to create agents of change. Read More

People of different religious traditions interpret the Bible differently, but what did those passages originally mean? Professor Amy-Jill Levine explores this in her latest book, "The Bible with and Without Jesus." Read More