Equity Diversity And Inclusion

Emmy Award–winning journalist Byron Pitts, co-host of ABC’s Nightline, will be the keynote speaker for Vanderbilt’s 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorative event on Monday, Jan. 16, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Blair School of Music’s Ingram Hall. Other activities planned for VU’s commemoration include a Joint Day of Service on Saturday, Jan. 14, and the Nashville MLK Day March and Convocation on Monday morning. Read More

Blair alumna Krystal Grant Folkestad uses her musical skills to serve multiple audiences while focusing on how life affects art and art influences activism.  Read More

The Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion will launch two new Employee Affinity Groups as part of an ongoing initiative to support university employees. Read More

The Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, in collaboration with the undergraduate student organizations FirstVU and QuestBridge Vanderbilt as well as the Network First-Gen initiative, invites members of the Vanderbilt community to participate in First-Generation Appreciation Week Nov. 3–11. Read More

Dr. André L. Churchwell, vice chancellor for outreach, inclusion and belonging and chief diversity officer, hosted a panel of Vanderbilt faculty earlier this fall to discuss the state of racial justice in America. Among the topics covered was how art can offer hope during unsettled times and help create a more just, civil and moral society. Read More

Dr. André L. Churchwell, vice chancellor for outreach, inclusion and belonging and chief diversity officer at Vanderbilt University, has been named a Top 25 Diversity Leader for 2022 by Modern Healthcare magazine. Read More

Alexis Garcia, BA'99, is executive vice president for the film group at Fifth Season, formerly Endeavor Content, the production company behind movies such as Cha Cha Real Smooth, Ambulance, The Peanut Butter Falcon and the Academy Award-recognized The Lost Daughter. Read More

Vanderbilt University wants to expand its understanding and support of the campus community by encouraging staff members to participate in the staff census now through Oct. 31. The census typically takes about 10 minutes to complete. Read More

Megan Piphus Peace, BA’14, MSF’15, is an accomplished ventriloquist and puppeteer who has performed in front of audiences across the nation, including on The Tonight Show and America’s Got Talent. In 2021, she made history as the first Black female puppeteer to work on the long-running children’s television show Sesame Street. Read More

In celebration of Juneteenth at Vanderbilt, the Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center offer opportunities to honor and celebrate Juneteenth.    Read More

The Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is requesting proposals for Employee Affinity Groups for 2022–23. Employee Affinity Groups are employee-led and -facilitated groups formed around interests, backgrounds, identities and common bonds. Read More

Briana Perry, co-executive director of Healthy and Free Tennessee, will discuss “We Who Believe in Freedom: Sustaining the Power of Grassroots Organizing” on Tuesday, April 12, at 6 p.m. in the Vanderbilt Student Life Center Board of Trust Room. The event, presented by the Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, is in honor of Ella Baker Day. Read More

Vice Chancellor André L. Churchwell and University Chaplain Chris Donald remind the Vanderbilt community that many religious and spiritual traditions represented on campus will be observing significant spring holy days. The reminder is intended to be a tool to assist students, faculty and staff in being proactive when planning academic or work responsibilities. Read More

Dr. André L. Churchwell, vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, will discuss fashion and innovation in an upcoming lecture hosted by the Vanderbilt Woman’s Club. The talk will be on Friday, April 8, at noon at the Scarritt Bennett Center. Read More

Vanderbilt’s graduating seniors are encouraged to participate in this year’s Graduate Recognition Ceremonies for specific identity groups as part of the university’s 2022 Commencement celebrations. Read More

Alyssa Aloyo, a program manager for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, works on strategic planning, program development and cultivating relationships with others across the university who are committed to equity, inclusion and belonging at Vanderbilt. Read More

Terence Van Heflin, of McDonough, Georgia, minister, pastor and groundbreaking Vanderbilt student-athlete, died July 9, 2021. He was 62. Read More

"Enter Exit Enter," a Vanderbilt Divinity School art exhibition celebrating Black History Month, opens virtually Feb. 1. The portraits and photographs by visual artist Donna Woodley can be viewed online. Read More

Vanderbilt has launched a new alumni affinity group for Vanderbilt’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, supporting the diaspora and beyond. The AAPI Association of Vanderbilt Alumni (AAVA) aims to connect alumni with one another as well as with current students and the broader Vanderbilt community.   Read More

Stephanie Mahnke, a higher education professional with extensive experience serving the LGBTQIA+ community and marginalized students, has been named director of the K.C. Potter Center and LGBTQI Life at Vanderbilt University. Read More