Peabody Reflector Peabody People

By Jennifer Kiilerich Molly Anne Thompson Murfreesboro, Tennessee, residents Dr. Roy and Margrey Thompson are skilled at finding laughter amidst difficulties. Each of their three children faced unique learning differences, and the couple often had to fight to get them the support they needed in school. Now, years after launching… Read More

070725 – Pres. Dr. Manya Whitaker, 15th president of Colorado College, portraits on July 7 around campus and the president’s house, Photo by Jamie Cotten / Colorado College Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development will bestow the 2026 Distinguished Alumna Award on Manya Whitaker, PhD’11, during… Read More

The Academic Senate at the University of California, Berkeley, created the Clark Kerr Award in 1968 to honor extraordinary contributions to the advancement of higher education. Past recipients include former Supreme Court Justice and California Governor Earl Warren, Carnegie Corporation President Vartan Gregorian, former Harvard President Derek Bok, former… Read More

Since 2023, graduates of Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development have won five consecutive research awards from the Association of Child Life Professionals. The nine award-winning graduates earned their master’s degrees in Child Studies at Vanderbilt and were students in the Children’s Healthcare, Illness,… 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

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

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

By Jennifer Kiilerich Grace Ambrose-Zaken, Pediatric Belt Cane inventor. It was a little bit of kismet that led Vanderbilt Peabody College alumna Grace Ambrose-Zaken, Ed.D.’97, to the visual disabilities field. But it was a lot of passion and creativity that drove her to transform that field with… Read More

Sharon Shields, Distinguished Alumna, Peabody College Doctor of Education Degree Ceremony at the Peabody Esplanade on May 09, 2025. (Photo by Joe Howell/Vanderbilt University) Sharon Shields and Camilla Benbow, Peabody College Doctor of Education Degree Ceremony at the Peabody Esplanade… Read More

By Jenna Somers Alex Astrella At age two Alex Astrella, MEd’23, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. His parents were told that he had little chance of graduating high school or becoming financially independent. Today, Astrella is the founder and CEO of Blu Star Productions, an award-winning film studio… Read More

Aneesh Sohoni Aneesh Sohoni, MPP’13, will become chief executive officer of Teach for America beginning April 15. Sohoni has held several education leadership positions of increasing responsibility since earning his master of public policy in education policy at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development. Read More

Andrew Roth, CEO of dcdx How should brands attract Gen Z, a generation notoriously unmoved by marketing tactics? That question is foundational to dcdx, the global research and strategy firm whose success in helping companies market to Gen Z landed Andrew Roth, BS’21, on the 2025 Forbes… Read More

Kristen McMaster Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development will bestow its 2024 Distinguished Alumna Award on special education and literacy researcher Kristen L. McMaster during Commencement ceremonies on May 10. A Triple ’Dore, McMaster earned her bachelor of science in 1995, master of education in 1998,… Read More

WATCH: See how Ph.D. candidate Rachel Hanebutt is empowering young people take control of their social media presence and habits, creating digital flourishing. Read More

WATCH: See how Cambri Driskell turned personal challenges into motivation and empathy to help others. Read More

Mason Richards, BS'97, continues his quest to turn 'The Seawall' into a feature film. Read More

Class of 2023: Amanda Harding wears three hats at Vanderbilt—one as a university staff member, another as a doctoral student pursuing her degree online and a third as president of the advisory group that represents Vanderbilt staff members. Read how her desire to further her education complements and inspires her work in the online learning space.  Read More