Vanderbilt Project On Unity And American Democracy

Former Senate Majority Leader Dr. Bill Frist shared examples from his time in political office and gave advice on what could help current lawmakers work toward compromise in a recent panel discussion on effective lawmaking. Read More

Chancellor Daniel Diermeier spoke to students in the Unity and American Democracy course Nov. 30 and used his talk in part to discuss the fundamental purpose of universities: to teach students “not what to think, but how to think.” Read More

A panel of experts led by former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist will discuss “The Keys to Effective Lawmaking in Turbulent Times” on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 12:30 p.m. CT. The virtual discussion hosted by the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy is free and open to the public. Read More

Jon Meacham, a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and the Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Professor of American Presidency at Vanderbilt University, was formally installed as Canon Historian of the Washington National Cathedral on Nov. 7. Read More

A group of former and current municipal leaders came together for a virtual discussion Nov. 3 to talk about how local governments get things done. Read More

The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy will host a virtual discussion with three former and current municipal leaders to talk about how local strategies can be effective at the national level. The event will stream Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 12:30 p.m. CT. Read More

A group of Vanderbilt scholars with legal, historical and political expertise on immigration came together Oct. 19 to discuss the crisis around Haitian migrants at the southern U.S. border and the recent influx of Afghan refugees to the United States. Read More

The contentious policy and political battles that led to legalizing same-sex marriage in the United States were highlighted in an in-person and virtual talk by journalist and author Sasha Issenberg at Sarratt Cinema on Oct. 11, marking the 33rd anniversary of National Coming Out Day.   Read More

“Immigration and Inclusion: Who Decides Who Belongs in America,” a panel of Vanderbilt history and legal scholars and political scientists, will discuss the evolving definition of “citizen” throughout the course of American history and the shift toward inclusiveness. The virtual event will be broadcast on Tuesday, Oct. 19, at noon CT. Read More

The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy hosted a virtual event, “The Hill Staffers Who Make Congress Go Round,” on Thursday, Sept. 30, at 12:30 p.m. CT. Read More

In remembrance of the 20th anniversary of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy will host a virtual discussion, “9/11: Two Decades Later,” on Friday, Sept. 10, at noon CT. The event will feature faculty historians and legal scholars Jon Meacham, Samar Ali and Ganesh Sitaraman. Read More

The 2020–21 academic year in many ways was defined by urgency and imminent priorities—from the rapid implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols and weekly testing to the procurement of technology required for hybrid teaching and the herculean planning behind the two in-person Commencement ceremonies we hosted this spring, to name just a few. I remain inspired by the way our community responded to these challenges with such profound resilience and innovative problem-solving. Read More

As the complex and tragic events in Afghanistan continue to unfold, we must support all those in the Vanderbilt community whose lives have been personally touched by these days of difficulty and challenge, writes Chancellor Daniel Diermeier. Read More

The humanitarian and military crisis in Afghanistan continues to erupt after the Taliban’s swift takeover of authority when the U.S. government began withdrawing troops earlier this month. In keeping with its mission to elevate facts and reasoned discourse, the Vanderbilt Project on Unity & American Democracy promptly brought together military and political experts, including Lt. Gen. Scott Howell, a former commander of the Joint Special Operations Command in Afghanistan, for a live virtual discussion. Read More

Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy will host a virtual panel Aug. 26 on the crisis in Afghanistan—a timely and exclusive discussion featuring Vanderbilt faculty historians and foreign policy experts and retired Lt. Gen. Scott A. Howell, former commander of U.S. Joint Special Operations Command.  Read More

National and local leaders who played key roles in the original rollout and current support of the COVID-19 vaccine came together for a panel, “Vaccine Hesitancy: The Politics of Public Health in Tennessee,” hosted by The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy and Vanderbilt University Medical Center Aug. 18. Read More

The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy and Vanderbilt University Medical Center will host “Vaccine Hesitancy: The Politics of Public Health in Tennessee,” a virtual event, on Wednesday, Aug. 18, at noon CT. Read More

Vanderbilt University joined Nashville community leaders to pay tribute to the life and Nashville legacy of U.S. Rep. John Lewis with the formal dedication of Rep. John Lewis Way and a public celebration at Ryman Auditorium. Read More

Vanderbilt University will join with many community partners to pay tribute to the life and Nashville legacy of Rep. John Lewis on July 16 and 17 with the formal dedication of Rep. John Lewis Way and a public celebration at Ryman Auditorium. Read More

Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion André L. Churchwell reflect on the one-year anniversary of the university's pledge to accelerate its work to make Vanderbilt a more diverse and inclusive community in which every member can thrive. Read More