Vanderbilt Magazine
Class of 2021: Divinity student pursues master’s work at the junction of theology and social justice
Apr. 19, 2021—With a heart for serving others and an interest in the intersection of theology and social justice, Erica Johnson was drawn to pursue a master’s degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School while working at a social services center for victims of domestic abuse.
Class of 2021: Undergraduate research inspires future physician-scientist to bridge the bedside and the bench
Apr. 16, 2021—When Mason Clark was in middle school, his beloved grandmother suffered a serious heart attack. She survived, thanks to the help of the local hospital, and the experience led Clark to his life’s purpose.
Class of 2021: Xuanxuan Chen is completing her senior year virtually—and taking the distance in stride
Apr. 12, 2021—Xuanxuan Chen is thankful for her memories of Vanderbilt's campus as she completes her senior year from home in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China—14 time zones away—as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Class of 2021: Interdisciplinary teamwork in the lab leads Ph.D. student to job with biotech giant
Apr. 9, 2021—After graduating with a Ph.D. in cell and developmental biology from the Vanderbilt School of Medicine Basic Sciences, Alissa Guarnaccia will begin a rare postdoctoral research position with health care biotechnology giant Genentech.
Class of 2021: Social justice activist strives to make change through health care
Apr. 5, 2021—A family legacy of fighting for civil rights fuels Chicago native Anana Upton, whose mission is creating positive change in underserved communities.
Class of 2021: Multitalented musician sets his sights on law and politics
Apr. 2, 2021—At Vanderbilt, Anighya Crocker found the freedom to pursue all of his passions, double-majoring in voice performance and law, history and society. Next, he is looking toward law school and politics—and maybe a run for governor of Tennessee.
Class of 2021: Master’s student is bringing hope through education to war-torn Sudan
Mar. 29, 2021—Ryan Boyette is using his Peabody master’s degree to further the work of the education nonprofit To Move Mountains, which he and his wife, Jazira, launched a few years before coming to Nashville.
Class of 2021: Twins combine passions for literature, science in emerging area of narrative medicine
Mar. 26, 2021—Identical twins Jade and Jazmyn Ayers have immersed themselves in literature and personal narratives for years, leading to majors in English as well as a creative way to pair storytelling with another of their passions: medicine.
Betsega Bekele, MEd’14, National Storyteller
Mar. 11, 2021—Betsega Bekele, MEd'14, helps lead American Portrait, a multiplatform, national storytelling project tied to PBS’ 50th anniversary celebration. The digital-first initiative that launched online in January 2020 is centered on this question: What does it really mean to be an American today?
Rebecca VanDiver tells the story of Black women artists through different frames of reference
Mar. 9, 2021—Assistant Professor of History of Art Rebecca VanDiver focuses her research on African American artists—particularly Black female artists of the 20th century. In the classroom, she presents art history not only as a discipline that allows for a study of the history of artistic movements and style, but also as a lens to study culture and history.
‘Now That You Are Here, I Can Think’: A poem by Major Jackson
Feb. 26, 2021—Major Jackson, who joined the university’s faculty as Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English in January 2021, is the author of five books of poetry.
Bea Martin, MA’62, Lifelong Educator
Feb. 25, 2021—Annie Beatrice “Bea” Martin, a retired teacher and administrator who was committed to education, outreach and social justice, died Oct. 11, 2020. She was 87.