Vanderbilt Government And Community Relations

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

18 Vanderbilt graduate students and postdoctoral researchers traveled to Washington, D.C., in October to participate in Vanderbilt’s Federal STEM Policy and Advocacy Seminar. This two-day event is designed to provide STEM professionals with an inside look at the federal policymaking process, the importance of advocacy in advancing science and research priorities and to explore careers in science policy. Read More

Krish Roy, Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of the School of Engineering, recently engaged in a leadership roundtable in Washington, D.C. with NIH Director Dr. Monica M. Bertagnolli. Hosted by United for Medical Research (UMR), the forum addressed critical issues in biomedical research funding and efforts to secure sustained federal investments in this vital area. Read More

As the November 5 general election approaches, it’s important to know what’s on the ballot and how the decisions made at the polls will impact our community and beyond. Here’s everything you need to know about the candidates and issues on the ballot so you can make informed choices on Election Day. Read More

Vanderbilt encourages the entire campus community to participate in the upcoming November 5 general election. With the voter registration deadline approaching, students, faculty and staff can take advantage of several voter registration and educational events coming up. 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 new avenues for radical collaboration among university partners and local community organizations. Read More

Vanderbilt University’s Office of Federal Relations hosted U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly on campus to talk about cybersecurity workforce shortages and the higher education cybersecurity ecosystem. Read More

The Nashville Innovation Alliance seeks to bring together public, private, civic and education institutions to collaborate on improving the region’s ecosystem for innovation and to research, develop and deploy technology and analytically based solutions to challenges facing Nashville and Davidson County. Read More

Summer in Nashville is the perfect time to explore the city’s dynamic cultural scene. Vanderbilt University is proud to support numerous nonprofit and community organizations that provide activities and events throughout the season. From lively music festivals to bustling art markets, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.  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

Vanderbilt’s Division of Government and Community Relations will host the special event at Vanderbilt Printing Services, 625 Chestnut St. in Nashville, from 4 to 5 p.m. on June 19. Read More

Vanderbilt University’s Jules White, a leading computer scientist and expert on large language models and prompt engineering, visited Capitol Hill recently to share his expertise with lawmakers. Read More

The gathering, centered around open discussion with Mayor Freddie O’Connell regarding the “Choose How You Move” transportation plan, was held Monday, May 20, in collaboration with Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Moving Forward. Read More

For over 24 years, the Civic Design Center has stood as a beacon for community-driven urban planning projects and programs. Based in downtown Nashville, this nonprofit organization draws expertise from diverse professional and academic sources, including Vanderbilt University, to engage community members in the envisioning and shaping of the city. Read More