Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal

David Brooks, an internationally acclaimed journalist whose work has shaped timely conversations around controversial and complex issues, will receive Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal when he speaks at the university’s 2024 Commencement activities. Brooks’ Graduates Day address will be on May 9 at 11 a.m. on The Commons Lawn. Read More

The Nichols Humanitarian Fund, which provides funding in support of Vanderbilt students who plan to pursue humanitarian immersive experiences, was established in 2006 by the E.C. and Lucile Hamby Nichols Trust, and by Edward C. Nichols Jr., JD’70, and his wife, Janice Nichols. The fund encourages Vanderbilt students to become better citizens of the world and to broaden their thinking by volunteering for humanitarian efforts. Read More

Maria Ressa, an internationally acclaimed journalist who was awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for exposing government corruption and human rights violations in her native Philippines and for defending free and accurate speech worldwide, called on the Vanderbilt Class of 2023 to seek truth and facts despite the “toxic sludge” of misinformation manipulating social media. Read More

Maria A. Ressa, an internationally acclaimed journalist who has endured political threats and government arrests for her commitment to truth and democracy, will receive Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal when she speaks to the university’s graduating students and their families during 2023 Commencement activities. Read More

Reid Hoffman, who played integral roles in founding the companies PayPal and LinkedIn, called on Vanderbilt University’s Class of 2022 to invest in true, substantial and enduring friendships as they set out on the next phases of their lives. Read More

Reid Hoffman, an accomplished entrepreneur, executive, investor and philanthropist who has played an integral role in building many of today’s leading consumer technology businesses, will receive Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal when he delivers the Graduates Day address to the Class of 2022 on May 12. Read More

Caroline Kennedy drew on inspirational remarks that her father, President John F. Kennedy, delivered at Vanderbilt in 1963 when she spoke virtually to the 2020 graduates and their families on April 30. Her Graduates Day address was postponed from last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top leader in infectious disease research and a renowned biomedical scientist, will receive Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal in May 2021 when he speaks to the university’s graduating students and their families. Read More

Caroline Kennedy, a bestselling author, attorney and former U.S. ambassador to Japan, will receive Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal when she speaks to Class of 2020 graduates and their families at their Graduates Day celebration on Friday, April 30. Read More

Best-selling author, attorney and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy will receive the Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal when she speaks to Vanderbilt graduating students and their families in May 2020. Read More

“Lessons of Presidential Leadership” will be the focus of a conversation between presidential historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and Jon Meacham during a Chancellor’s Lecture Series event Oct. 31. Read More

Tennis champion, entrepreneur and equal rights advocate Venus Williams imparted to Vanderbilt University’s Class of 2019 a well-tested list for success heavy on risk-taking, goal-making and optimism during remarks delivered Thursday in Memorial Gym as part of Senior Day. Read More

Venus Williams—an international tennis champion, entrepreneur and author—will receive the Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal in May 2019, when she addresses graduating seniors at Vanderbilt and their families. Read More

In a Senior Day speech that brought a packed Memorial Gymnasium to its feet, Amal Clooney took the crowd through historic examples of courage, including Vanderbilt Distinguished Alumnus Rev. James Lawson. Read More

The entire Vanderbilt community is invited to hear British human rights lawyer Amal Clooney speak beginning at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 10, in Memorial Gym. Clooney will receive Vanderbilt's prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal when she addresses graduating seniors, their families and other members of campus during Senior Day. Read More

Vanderbilt University Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos will give his Commencement address to about 3,100 graduates Friday, May 11, the day after the students hear from international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney. Read More

British human rights lawyer Amal Clooney will receive Vanderbilt's prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal in May 2018, when she will address graduating seniors and their families during Senior Day. Read More

Acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns spoke to graduating Vanderbilt seniors during Senior Day and was awarded the Nichols-Chancellor's Medal. Read More

Ken Burns, Vanderbilt University’s 2017 Nichols-Chancellor's Medalist and Senior Day speaker, took a break last month from editing his upcoming film, "Country Music," to talk with MyVU and share his insights on filmmaking, where America stands today, and some contemplative thoughts for seniors on the cusp of Commencement. Read More

Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos will deliver Vanderbilt University’s traditional Commencement address May 12, the day after documentary filmmaker Ken Burns accepts a prestigious Vanderbilt award and offers his advice. Read More