Office Of LGBTQI Life

Vanderbilt’s graduating students are encouraged to participate in this year’s graduate recognition ceremonies (GRC) for specific identity groups as part of the university’s 2024 Commencement celebrations.  Read More

The lecture by C.P. Hoffman, senior policy counsel with the National Center for Transgender Equality, will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 24, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. as part of the Law School’s Dean’s Lecture Series on Race and Discrimination. Read More

Featuring researchers, Dean K.C. Potter, and the first directors of Vanderbilt's LGBTQI Life office, this panel will discuss the rich history and climate of Vanderbilt and Nashville's LGBTQIA+ communities. The discussion will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 9, in the Rothschild Black Box Theatre. 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

K.C. Potter made campus more inclusive and welcoming as dean of residential and judicial affairs. Read More

When Syrian native Musbah Shaheen, BA’17, traveled to the U.S. for the first time to attend Vanderbilt, he had no idea how the university’s cornerstone philosophies of equity, diversity and belonging would stretch him personally or shape his professional future and Ph.D. research. Read More

Recent policies and legislation across the U.S. have made the reading and teaching of banned books even more difficult in K–12 classrooms and libraries. To help the Vanderbilt and Nashville communities navigate these changes, several offices across Vanderbilt have collaborated on a Banned Books Initiative featuring a series of events offered throughout the academic year. Read More

In celebration of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, Vanderbilt is inviting members of the university community to several events offered this June through the K.C. Potter Center and the Glammadores LGBTQIA+ Employee Affinity Group, as well as Pride Month events across Nashville. 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

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, when Vanderbilt will shine a spotlight on some of the initiatives that help support its incredible and diverse community. Alumni, donors, friends and community members are invited to make a gift to advance belonging and help create an inclusive campus where everyone can grow to their full potential. Read More

October is LGBTQI History Month, a time when the Vanderbilt community comes together to celebrate the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex individuals, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements, through programming and events. Central to these activities is the K.C. Potter Center, a hub for outreach and support for the LGBTQI community and allies on campus. Read More

LGBTQI History Month—a time to come together, reflect, celebrate and educate—will be observed at Vanderbilt throughout October. Events are sponsored by the Office of LGBTQI Life in partnership with others on campus. Read More

Diverse ’Dores Day is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 9, from noon to 4 p.m. The event is open to all Vanderbilt students, staff, faculty and postdoctoral scholars. Read More

Brianna Nesbitt has been named interim director of LGBTQI Life, effective Sept. 1. Nesbitt, who also serves as assistant director of the Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center, is a committed student advocate with an extensive background in higher education. The Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Human Resources recently relaunched the nationwide search for a new director of LGBTQI Life. Read More

LAVA, the LGBTQIA+ Association of Vanderbilt Alumni, and the Vanderbilt Alumni Association explored the significance of a landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in an online ’Dores in Dialogue event June 22. Panelists also focused on the recent proliferation of legislation at the state level targeting the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Read More

Explore upcoming events and resources as part of Vanderbilt University's PRIDE celebration. Read More

A number of Vanderbilt graduates participated in recognition ceremonies supported by the Provost’s Office for Inclusive Excellence May 13–14 as part of the university’s 2021 Commencement celebrations. Read More

The co-editors of "The Black Trans Prayer Book," an interfaith collection of stories, poems, prayers, meditations and more about the experiences of trans and nonbinary Black people, were the featured guests during a two-day virtual event hosted by the Vanderbilt community. Read More

A two-day virtual event Feb. 18–19 hosted by the Vanderbilt community will feature the creators of "The Black Trans Prayer Book," an interfaith collection of stories, poems, prayers, meditations and more about the experiences of Black trans and nonbinary people. Read More

Collecting demographic information in ways that are inclusive to all identities is a positive step for any organization to make toward greater accuracy and equity. This guide from Vanderbilt's Office of LGBTQI Life offers a few specific ways to ask about gender and sexuality in ways that are respectful and inclusive. Read More