Equity Diversity and Inclusion
Celebrated novelist Dinaw Mengestu challenges American exceptionalism in MLK Commemorative keynote
Jan. 19, 2021—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.
University leaders reflect on life of community activist Kwame Lillard, frequent contributor to Vanderbilt’s MLK Series
Jan. 14, 2021—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.
EDI, HR launch guidelines for Employee Affinity Groups
Dec. 7, 2020—The Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, in partnership with Human Resources, has announced a new framework to establish, manage and sustain university-supported Employee Affinity Groups, which are designed to help foster a positive work environment at Vanderbilt and support the university’s values specific to diversity, inclusion and campus engagement.
Gender Affirmation Toolkit supports inclusivity for Vanderbilt employees
Dec. 3, 2020—Vanderbilt University has launched the Gender Affirmation Toolkit to reinforce its commitment to providing a safe and inclusive working environment for all employees. The toolkit was developed in collaboration with the Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Human Resources, the Equal Opportunity and Access Office, the Office of LGBTQI Life and other campus partners.
Monique Nelson-Nwachuku, BS’96: A Different Path
Nov. 3, 2020—A profile of Monique Nelson-Nwachuku, winner of Vanderbilt’s 2020 Alumni Professional Achievement Award, who is chairman and CEO of UniWorld Group, the country’s longest-standing multicultural marketing agency.
Reunion classes of 2020 recognized with virtual celebration
Oct. 23, 2020—Vanderbilt University hosted a virtual celebration on Oct. 21, recognizing the Reunion classes of 2020 with a special toast. The event served as a prelude to an on-campus celebration Vanderbilt will host next fall for all alumni whose Reunion year falls in 2020 or 2021.
New report highlights university’s actions around equity, diversity and inclusion
Oct. 16, 2020—Vanderbilt University has released its 2019-20 Report for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion highlighting an array of goals and initiatives currently advancing these core university values and offering a roadmap for the future.
Trailblazing alumna Dorothy Phillips discusses her career as a chemist, importance of diversity in the physical sciences
Oct. 2, 2020—Dorothy J. Wingfield Phillips, BA’67, the first African American woman to receive an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt and a member of the inaugural class of Vanderbilt Trailblazers, recently was interviewed by the American Chemical Society about her career as a chemist and the importance of making the physical sciences more inclusive for women and underrepresented minorities.
Vanderbilt Trailblazer Dorothy Phillips receives lifetime achievement award
Sep. 25, 2020—Dorothy J. Wingfield Phillips, BS’67, is being honored with a lifetime achievement award from the National Organization for the Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers. Phillips, the first African American woman to receive an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt, is a 2020 recipient of NOBCChE’s Lifetime Service Award.
Panel discussion to focus on women of color and civic engagement Sept. 18
Sep. 15, 2020—The legacies of Ida B. Wells and J. Frankie Pierce and their fight for suffrage for Black women will be the topic of a panel discussion on Friday, Sept. 18. The online event will explore how Wells’ and Pierce’s life’s work contributed to the struggle for women’s suffrage and how their legacies inform Black women and civic engagement in our communities today.
Lasting and Meaningful Change: NFL executive Adolpho A. Birch III, JD’91, discusses diversity on campus and athlete activism
Sep. 10, 2020—Birch, the new chief legal officer and senior vice president of business affairs for the Tennessee Titans, recently was named chair of a new Vanderbilt Board of Trust ad hoc committee that is partnering with university leadership to evaluate and recommend policies around equity, diversity and inclusion. Here he discusses the work of the committee, the rise in athlete activism, and his favorite Nashville sports memory.
Center for Teaching offers professional development to support equity, diversity and inclusion
Sep. 4, 2020—The Center for Teaching's programs, resources and professional development opportunities under the banner “Teaching, Difference and Power" seek to make Vanderbilt a more diverse, inclusive and equitable institution.