Kitt Carpenter

On October 17, 2022, Vanderbilt University launched “Discovery Vanderbilt” to embolden faculty, students and staff to pursue innovative ideas through disciplined, rigorous inquiry. Led by Provost Cybele Raver, the university committed $80 million in the effort—and invested $50 million in the first year alone. Read More

Adm. Rachel Levine, assistant secretary of health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, addressed transgender health and policy during a visit to Vanderbilt in April 2024. (Vanderbilt) Adm. Rachel Levine, assistant secretary of health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, addressed transgender health… Read More

Vanderbilt University has been awarded a prize from the National Institutes of Health for its creation of the LGBTQ+ Policy Lab, which advances a culture of inclusion for sexual and gender minority individuals through interdisciplinary research and collaboration. Read More

More than 150 alumni and parent volunteers gathered on campus March 1–2 for Vanderbilt’s seventh annual Volunteer Leadership Weekend. Attendees of the weekend events included representatives from many alumni and parent groups across the university. Read More

The Discovery Vanderbilt center welcomed adolescent and young adult health expert Stephen Russell to share evidence for strategies that create supportive communities, reduce mental health risk and promote well-being for LGBTQ+ youth. Read More

Supported by Discovery Vanderbilt and a collaboration between the College of Arts and Science and the School of Nursing, the center will deepen society’s understanding of the causes and consequences of health-related inequalities. An event marking the center’s launch will take place on Monday, Sept. 18. Read More

The new role, program coordinator for gender diversity, will be within the new People, Culture and Belonging division and will help navigate questions, concerns and support for LGBTQI+ students, faculty and staff members. Read More

A university-wide task force convened by the Office of the Provost, in coordination with the Office of Chancellor, to assess the impact of new Tennessee laws banning gender-affirming care for minors and public adult cabaret shows will hold a series of listening sessions in April and May. All Vanderbilt faculty, staff, and students are invited to participate in the listening sessions. Read More

Experts from the Vanderbilt LGBT Policy Lab a discussion about the state of research regarding LGBTQ+ rights and policy and the effects of pro- and anti- queer policies on health, education, economic outcomes and overall well-being Read More

The contentious policy and political battles that led to legalizing same-sex marriage in the United States were highlighted in an in-person and virtual talk by journalist and author Sasha Issenberg at Sarratt Cinema on Oct. 11, marking the 33rd anniversary of National Coming Out Day.   Read More

Journalist and author Sasha Issenberg will speak at Vanderbilt Oct. 11 for a special on-campus event discussing the policy and political battles that led to legalizing same-sex marriage in the United States. Issenberg is the author of "The Engagement: America’s Quarter-Century Struggle Over Same-Sex Marriage." Read More

Chancellor Daniel Diermeier presented prestigious awards to seven academic leaders at the Spring Faculty Assembly on April 1. He also announced the establishment of the Chancellor's Award for University Service. Read More

Falling between the gender and race gap, men in same-sex couples are 12 percentage points less likely to have a STEM degree, research by Vanderbilt economist Kitt Carpenter confirms. Read More

Economist shares COVID-19 economic data and prescription for successful recovery in compelling lecture hosted by the Data Science Institute, Department of Economics, the Public Policy Studies program and nonpartisan public policy research center The Sycamore Institute. Read More

Vanderbilt faculty members Tara McKay and Gilbert Gonzales will be the featured speakers for a webinar at 1 p.m. today focused on LGBTQ health in the age of coronavirus. Read More

Transgender adults experience considerably greater economic hardship and worse health than cisgender adults, according to the first study to document the socioeconomic struggles of this population in the United States.  Read More

Vanderbilt marked LGBTQI History Month in October with a series of events honoring lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex narratives and history, and by engaging community members in meaningful reflection, programming and education. Read More

During his Oct. 2 Chancellor’s Lecture, actor George Takei shared how the challenges he endured from his family’s wrongful imprisonment during World War II have propelled his human rights activism. Read More

The National Institute on Aging has awarded a five-year, $1.9 million grant to Vanderbilt faculty members Tara McKay, Kitt Carpenter, Lauren Gaydosh and Gilbert Gonzales to study the health effects of social and support networks on sexual and gender minorities 50 to 70 years old in the South. Read More

George Takei, an actor and social justice advocate who had a founding role in the original "Star Trek" television series, will speak at Vanderbilt Oct. 2 as part of the Chancellor’s Lecture Series. Interim Chancellor and Provost Susan R. Wente will host the free event at 6:30 p.m. in Langford Auditorium. Read More