Arts And Science Student Stories

Meet some members of the Class of 2023 whose inspired collaborations—within Vanderbilt, across the Nashville community and beyond—are making the world better.  Read More

Class of 2023: See how Kavya Sharman is using the rich experiences and connections she’s cultivated as an undergraduate and graduate student in the School of Medicine Basic Sciences to build bridges between biotechnology and business. Read More

Class of 2023: Kingston Ho doesn’t just play beautiful music—he’s studying how his brain and body make those melodies happen. Read why the award-winning violinist with multiple prestigious international competitions under his belt chose to double major in violin performance at the Blair School of Music and in medicine, health and society in the College of Arts and Science. Read More

Meet some members of the Class of 2023 who are cultivating belonging to strengthen, support and enrich the community at Vanderbilt and beyond.  Read More

Class of 2023: Sanjana Padala, a medicine, health and society major from Little Rock, Arkansas, has a heart for helping those who might feel unheard. Whether volunteering at Veterans Affairs hospitals, tutoring fellow students in physics, creating cultural connections through Asian American clubs, or dreaming of a future working in health care and helping to support mental and physical health equity, Padala’s calming and optimistic nature fosters connection.  Read More

A dynamic group of Vanderbilt scholars—all women—with expertise in engineering, earth sciences, sociology and storytelling took to a global stage at the 27th annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, better known as COP27. Read More

Ten students from the Class of 2023 have been named as finalists for the Outstanding Senior award, one of the highest honors an undergraduate student can receive at Vanderbilt. Each of the nominees will be recognized, and the top Outstanding Senior will be announced, during halftime of the Commodores’ Homecoming football game on Saturday, Oct. 8. Read More

At Vanderbilt, a mindset of collaboration is infused in every aspect of university life. Meet members of the Class of 2022 whose collaborations within the VU and Nashville communities have led to profound outcomes. Read More

For Dominic Keegan, Vanderbilt was an opportunity to follow his baseball dream to a university that is synonymous with excellence on the diamond...Keegan has found a special level of support on campus and at home, and his baseball dream has prospered. Read More

Vanderbilt Climbing Club teammates Michael Finn-Henry and Olivia Busk are taking collaboration and innovation to new heights with a breakthrough medical device—and a possible trip to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Read More

Harry Choi has lived in four countries on three continents, learned five languages and made lasting connections with people from around the globe. At Vanderbilt he is using his international experiences to help people feel a greater sense of belonging on campus. Read More

It’s not unusual to see Hao Zhen literally bouncing with enthusiasm into the classrooms and rehearsal halls at Vanderbilt Blair School of Music. Her excitement about making music can be traced to a pivotal moment in her childhood. Read More

Class of 2022: Discussing a diagnosis with a doctor can be scary and confusing even under the best of circumstances. But when a language barrier is involved, the likelihood of a misunderstanding is far greater. Medicine, health and society and Spanish double major Lauren Cerda hopes someday to alleviate that problem as a translator and bilingual physician. Read More

Class of 2022: A passion for learning about Africa and the support of her Jamaican seamstress grandmother inspired Shea Clarke to weave together shared passions into a creative business. Read More

The intersection of science and society is the foundation of a multi-institutional collaboration of students and faculty in a virtual and physical art exhibit titled "Nested Knowledge: Disentangling History, Truth and Race in STEM Experiences." The exhibit can be experienced online and at the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s Innovation Center, through February 2022 in honor of Black History Month. Read More

Students in the Glacial Geology class took their research to new levels of immersion, collecting soil and rock samples at an elevation of 9,000 feet in the Sawatch Mountain Range of Colorado. Their research helps show the movement of glaciers, ultimately giving clues about the impact of climate change. Read More

Among Vanderbilt’s all-time fastest swimmers in the 200-meter butterfly, Brooke Ellis is also the first CSET student to achieve highest honors. As she prepared to defend her senior honors thesis in April, Brooke Ellis could call on plenty of Vanderbilt experiences that prepared her for the moment. There was the… Read More

Student-athlete Myra Konte was drafted in January by the North Carolina Courage—her dream team—but will delay her professional soccer career temporarily to continue her education at Vanderbilt. Read More

With a heart for serving others and an interest in the intersection of theology and social justice, Erica Johnson was drawn to pursue a master’s degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School while working at a social services center for victims of domestic abuse. Read More

When Mason Clark was in middle school, his beloved grandmother suffered a serious heart attack. She survived, thanks to the help of the local hospital, and the experience led Clark to his life’s purpose. Read More