Peabody Reflector Fall 2025

Golnaz Arastoopour Irgens, professor of human-centered learning technologies and director of the IDEA lab, was selected for the competitive Amazon Web Services  Education Equity Initiative for her work with Adventures in AI, a suite of tools that lets elementary students not only learn how to use AI,… Read More

Dean Camilla P. Benbow Traditional college-aged students, working professionals, preschool through 12th grade learners—at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development, we teach all of them and advance discoveries that improve their educational experiences. While much of this work takes place on campus, Peabody’s value extends to classrooms and… Read More

The following speech was delivered by Peabody Distinguished Alumna Sharon Shields, PhD’76, at Peabody Diploma Ceremonies on May 8, 2025. Her remarks have been lightly edited for context. Sharon Shields and Camilla Benbow, Peabody College Doctor of Education Degree Ceremony at the Peabody Esplanade on May 09, 2025. (Photo… Read More

By Jenna Somers Mark Lipsey Mark Lipsey, professor emeritus of public policy at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development, has been awarded the Stockholm Prize in Criminology, the world’s largest and most prestigious criminology prize. Lipsey received the award for his research on rehabilitative programs… Read More

Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development has established the new Teacher Pathway Scholarship for all admitted master’s and Ed.D. students in initial teacher licensure programs and advanced programs. The new scholarship guarantees a minimum 30 percent of tuition for initial licensure and advanced programs listed below,… Read More

By Jenna Somers On October 30 and 31, education scholars, practitioners and policymakers convened Schoolteacher at 50. The conference marked the 50th anniversary of sociologist Dan Lortie’s book about the ethos of the teaching profession. Attendees reflected upon Lortie’s insights at the time of publication as well as their applicability… Read More

Key Takeaways: Vanderbilt has launched a new Quantitative Methods and Data Analytics for Human Behavior M.S. program. Students who earn the degree will have in-demand skills to be competitive across a range of industries. Apply early to take advantage of priority decision benefits: Priority Decision 1: January 3,… Read More

By Steven Smartt, BME’71, MME’72 April 1, 1970, was a notable day in the history of Peabody College. John T. Scopes, defendant in the famous “Monkey Trial” of July 1925 in Dayton, Tenn., spent a full day on campus at the invitation of the Peabody Student Government Association. John… Read More

By Jennifer Kiilerich Gabriella Noreen is teaching at PTY while earning her Ph.D. with Vanderbilt Peabody College. Gabriella Noreen loved math from a very young age, her passion deepening when she discovered A.P. statistics as a teen. But she tended to be quiet in school. “I wish somebody had… Read More

By Jennifer Kiilerich and Jenna Somers Imagine learning about ecosystems by “becoming” a bee, connecting with your child more deeply by discussing a good book, or being inspired by a library of brand-new AI creations right at your fingertips. These experiences are all possible thanks to learning tools being developed,… Read More

Sae-Eun (Grace) Lee By Sae-Eun (Grace) Lee When I began interning for Nashville Peer, I didn’t know what to expect. I assumed the work would involve tedious tasks that required my time but low levels of engagement. However, life is full of surprises, and this experience was yet another. Read More

By Jenna Somers Claire Smrekar (center), associate professor of leadership, policy and organizations, and Ron Zimmer, former associate professor of public policy and education (left), took part in the panel discussion “Options in Education: School Vouchers—What Research Shows.” Claire Smrekar was well acquainted with Cleveland, Mississippi. She had traveled… Read More

Lifelong learning is at the heart of Vanderbilt and it extends far beyond the undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. Learn about Innovative programs for all ages, cultivating a vibrant and robust community in this Vanderbilt Magazine feature story. Read More

RESEARCH SPARK: AI is becoming a common tool for Human Resources departments. Learn from new faculty Salvatore Falletta about the ethical lines between creepy AI analytics creative decision making. Read More

By Jennifer Kiilerich Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development, with Florida State University Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, and the University of Kansas School of Education and Human Sciences, hosted a four-day gathering of some of the world’s leading minds from institutions… Read More

Founded in 2016, the Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) brought together leaders from Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development and the Tennessee Department of Education to launch one of the first state-level research-practice partnerships aimed at informing education policy and practice. Through TERA, researchers… Read More

Jason Vadnos An increasingly globalized world needs young leaders who can bridge divides and help solve humanity’s biggest challenges. This year, Jason Vadnos, a third-year student in the Department of Human and Organizational Development (HOD) at Vanderbilt Peabody College was named a 2025-2027 recipient of the… Read More

Salvatore Falletta (submitted photo) Warren Lowell (Vanderbilt University) Amy Owen Michelle Perdomo Douglas Ribeiro (Vanderbilt University) Jonathan Seiden… Read More