Vanderbilt Government And Community Relations

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Vanderbilt invites the community to a new season of discovery, connection and fun with a dynamic lineup of winter courses and programs to keep your mind active and your spirit warm.  Whether you’re diving into science, literature or music, or exploring global perspectives through courses on Japan, Sicily and the Abrahamic faiths, you’ll find something to spark your curiosity. This winter also features returning favorites like Tai Chi and Gentle Yoga, new opportunities to learn Mahjong, and creative arts offerings from landscape painting to the always-popular Steel Drum Band and Chorale.  Read More

Vanderbilt hosted the 11th annual Blue Ribbon Teacher Awards in collaboration with the Nashville Public Education Foundation on Oct. 30. Twenty-five Metro Nashville Public Schools educators—including several Peabody College alumni—were recognized for excellence in student success, opportunity, instruction and leadership. Honorees received a $2,000 cash prize, professional headshots, a trophy and two round-trip Southwest Airlines vouchers. Read More

The room buzzed with energy at Operation Stand Down Tennessee as city leaders and university researchers gathered just a few blocks from Vanderbilt’s campus to tackle some of Nashville’s most pressing civic challenges. It was the first annual Civic Tech Jam, hosted by the Nashville Innovation Alliance on Oct. 22—a pitch event that brought together faculty from across Middle Tennessee universities, including many from Vanderbilt, and Metro Department leaders to explore technology-driven approaches to civic challenges.  Read More

With just a few clicks, Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff can connect with volunteer opportunities across Nashville, thanks to the university’s new Get Connected platform.  Read More

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Vanderbilt is offering an inspiring lineup of fall courses and activities that reflect the spirit of lifelong learning and connection. Whether you’re diving into science, literature, music or exploring global perspectives through the highly requested new course on India, you’ll find something to spark your curiosity.  Read More

The Division of Government and Community Relations has announced the opening of applications for the Community Engagement Collaboration Fund. The fund aims to foster capacity for deeper collaboration among university partners and local community organizations.   Read More

In late June, Chancellor Daniel Diermeier traveled to Washington, D.C., for a day of congressional meetings and to headline Vanderbilt University’s congressional reception. His visit, organized by Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations, came at a pivotal moment as Congress considers sweeping budget and tax legislation.  Read More

Nashville is a city bustling with activity during the sweltering summer months. From cultural celebrations to arts exhibitions to live dance and music offerings, there is something in store for everyone. Vanderbilt University is proud to support numerous nonprofit and community organizations that provide activities and events throughout the season. Read More

On April 8, the alliance held an event at the Student Life Center focused on building our city’s local technology workforce: “Tech Talent at Scale: World-Class Expertise for Upskilling Nashville’s Workforce.” With discussions on strengthening Nashville’s tech talent pipeline and insights from distinguished experts and industry leaders, this event identified novel collaborative solutions to help bring higher-paying jobs to more Nashvillians and to position the region as a premier center for innovation. Read More

Between 2019 and 2024, Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center made a $22.13 billion in economic impact on the city of Nashville and across the state of Tennessee. Read More

Summer is just around the corner, and Vanderbilt University is offering a wide-ranging variety of summer camps and programs for kids. From athletics to academics and arts, there is something for everyone to enjoy and learn—all within Vanderbilt's supportive and enriching environment.  Read More

From the meditative practice of Tai Chi, to the exploration of the iconic movies that shaped the boomer generation, to the creative art of watercolor painting, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Vanderbilt is offering an exciting lineup of spring courses to invite the 50-plus community to rediscover the joy of learning.  Read More

ON THE HILL is a biannual report produced by the Division of Government and Community Relations summarizing activity at all three levels of government, as outlined by the Vanderbilt Federal Relations, State Government Relations and Local Government Relations teams. Read More

What does a better-connected Nashville look like? For Vanderbilt University, it means a campus that is seamlessly linked to the city through frequent, reliable public transit, safer sidewalks and smarter traffic signals—all of which are on the horizon with the approval of the “Choose How You Move” transportation referendum. On Nov. 5, voters in Davidson County approved the $3.1 billion transit plan; 66 percent of ballots cast were in favor of the city’s transportation system overhaul. Approval of the referendum triggers a half-cent increase in sales tax that will take effect Feb. 1.  Read More

From integrating literacy into music education to empowering teens to lead a more balanced digital life, seven innovative projects have been awarded funding through the fall 2024 cycle of the Community Engagement Collaboration Fund. Faculty and staff from 11 of Vanderbilt’s schools, departments and centers have joined forces with local nonprofits, schools and other community stakeholders to bring these initiatives to life.   Read More

This winter, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is offering an exciting lineup of courses to invite the 50+ community to rediscover the joy of learning. For added convenience during the unpredictable weather of winter, many classes are available through Zoom, allowing students to join from the comfort of home. Registration for winter classes is open Nov. 18–Jan. 3. Classes begin on Jan. 12. Read More

To address the complexities AI poses to the nation’s economy and security, Vanderbilt University experts retired Gen. Paul Nakasone, founding director of Vanderbilt’s Institute of National Security, and Jesse Spencer-Smith, interim director of the Data Science Institute, shared crucial insights with a bipartisan group of congressional staff on Capitol Hill. Read More

As Nashville continues to grow and evolve, the need for convenient and environmentally friendly transportation options has become increasingly important. Recognizing this need, Vanderbilt University created MoveVU, a bold transportation and mobility plan designed to rethink how the Vanderbilt community gets around. Members of the Vanderbilt Division of Government… Read More

On Thursday, Oct. 17, Vanderbilt University hosted the annual Blue Ribbon Teacher Awards, presented by the Nashville Public Education Foundation. These awards celebrate teachers who excel in equity, instruction and leadership within Metro Nashville Public Schools. Read More

In a city known for its music scene and rapidly changing skyline, the complex and often overlooked history of Nashville’s civil rights struggles has long remained in the shadows. Betsy Phillips, a local author and staff member at Vanderbilt University Press, is on a mission to change that narrative with her new book, Dynamite Nashville: Unmasking the FBI, the KKK, and the Bombers Beyond Their Control.  Read More