Savanna Starko

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

Vanderbilt University was awarded a grant by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Inclusive Excellence Community to improve outcomes and persistence in STEM among underrepresented students. Read More

Senior Lecturer in Physics and Astronomy Savanna Starko originally intended to become a high school math teacher. But when a battle with thyroid cancer disrupted her first year of college, a professor helped her see how physics might be a better fit. Read More