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Surgeon who broke color barrier at Vanderbilt named 2008 Distinguished Alumnus

Dr. Levi Watkins Jr., a noted cardiac surgeon, whose passionate advocacy for racial equality and diversity was shaped by his early exposure to the Civil Rights Movement and its leaders, has been named the university's 2008 Distinguished Alumnus. The Vanderbilt Alumni Association will honor Watkins on October 22 at the Student Life Center. » Full Story

Vanderbilt ranks among nation's best hospitals

U.S. News & World Report—Vanderbilt University Medical Center has been ranked 15th in the nation and has joined the "Honor Roll" of the nation's hospitals. A special article highlighted Vanderbilt's medical excellence. » Full Story

Vanderbilt, Curb embrace creative campus concept

Vanderbilt University will elevate creative practice on and off campus to prepare students to work with globalized markets, engage emerging technologies, and navigate increasingly complex intellectual property rules through an expansive new program funded by recording industry executive Mike Curb. » Full Story

Vanderbilt trustee, Children's Hospital namesake Monroe Carell Jr. dies

Monroe J. Carell Jr., a Nashville executive admired as much for his generous philanthropy, especially in support of Vanderbilt University, as for his business acumen, died peacefully at home June 20 after a courageous battle with cancer. The former chairman and chief executive officer of Central Parking Corp. led the university's Shape the Future campaign and was the driving force behind the building of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. » Full Story

News from
Alumni Relations

Find Vanderbilt Events at a Chapter Near You

Connect with fellow Vanderbilt alumni and friends at Chapter events in your area. Cities with upcoming August Chapter events include:

Check the current calendar for all events planned in your area; new events are always being added.

Alumni Association Board of Directors 2008 – 2010

Nashvillian Billy Ray Caldwell, BA'85, began serving as president of the Alumni Association July 1. John Hindle, BA’68, PhD’81, a London resident, was elected the new vice president. See all 2008 – 2010 board members here.

Submit a Nomination for the Next Distinguished Alumnus/a Award

The Alumni Association seeks nominations for the next Vanderbilt Distinguished Alumnus/a Award, given to someone whose global contributions have had an indelible, beneficial impact on humankind. The deadline to submit nominations is September 15, 2008. Nomination form, award criteria, and a list of previous recipients are all online.

Join our Commodore football team on the road this fall

The Vanderbilt Alumni Association and the National Commodore Club are sponsoring tailgates at three away football games this fall: Thursday, Aug. 28, at Miami of Ohio; Saturday, Sept. 20, at Ole Miss; and Saturday, Nov. 15, at Kentucky. Circle Oct. 25 on your calendar for Reunion, the pre-game tailgate party, and Homecoming game versus Duke. Continuous updates available here.

Vanderbilt Chapters welcome the Class of 2012

Summer Send-Off Parties are underway in more than 35 cities to welcome new students and their families to the Vanderbilt community. See more details about Summer Send-Off Parties and other Chapter events in your area.

Life After Vanderbilt guide

With the help of more than 300 young alumni, the first-ever Life After Vanderbilt guide offers new alums valuable advice about moving, money, networking, city insider tips and more. View the guide and tell us what you think.

Yucatan: Maya Treasures and Haciendas of Old Mexico

Visit some of the most magnificent sites of classic Mayan culture and learn about the colonial history and impressive architecture of the haciendas of Old Mexico. Professor of History Jane Landers leads the trip, Oct. 29 - Nov. 8. Contact the Vanderbilt Travel Program, 615/322-2929.

From the Campus

Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt recognized as one of best

The Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt has again been named one of U.S. News and World Report's best children's hospitals, and two specialties within the hospital are recognized for their excellence. » Full Story

Southerners living in U.S. cancer belt

The South is known for many things: hot, steamy summers, iced tea laced with sugar and friendly people with a tendency to welcome strangers. But beneath the veneer of Southern hospitality and gracious living lurks a silent killer: cancer. Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center researchers have their own name for the southern region of the United States: the "cancer belt." » Full Story

Visionary leadership among strengths of new dean of Vanderbilt Heard Library

Connie Vinita Dowell, a Vanderbilt University graduate with three decades of experience working in academic libraries, including two senior leadership positions, has been named dean of the Jean and Alexander Heard Library at Vanderbilt. » Full Story

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Dean of The Commons
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Scholar Identity Institute prepares young black
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Creating the bionic arm
of the future

Sports News

Athletics announces $50 million facility upgrade

Construction is under way on the first phase of several important upgrades to Vanderbilt Athletics facilities that will benefit both Commodore student-athletes and Vanderbilt supporters for years to come. More photos and videos here. » Full Story

Wait pays off for Alvarez

Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez was offered almost a million dollars to play for the Boston Red Sox three years ago. But Alvarez, 18 at the time, turned down the money and honored his commitment to Vanderbilt and to his education. Recently, he was the No. 2 pick in Major League Baseball's amateur draft, and his agent will seek a $7 million signing bonus. » Full Story

First VU Hall of Fame Athletes Announced

Basketball, track and field, golf, football and baseball players are all represented in the first class to be selected for Vanderbilt's new athletic hall of fame. A pair of administrators, a coach and a sportswriter will also go into the to-be-constructed hall of fame building.
» Full Story

VU + iTunes = iTunesU

Download coursework, lectures, news, music, sports, special events and more. Play on your iPod, Mac or PC, or burn a CD. Explore a world of knowledge at Vanderbilt. » Full Story

In case you need a transcript…

The Office of the University Registrar—the place to contact for transcripts—has moved. To visit in-person: Baker Building, Suite 110. The new mailing address is: Office of the University Registrar, PMB 407701, 110 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37240-7701. 615/322-7701 (phone); 615/343-7709 (fax); university.registrar@vanderbilt.edu.

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.commodore is published monthly by Vanderbilt University Development and Alumni Relations Communications
· PMB 407703, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN 37240-7703 ·
phone: 615/322-2601 · fax: 615/343-8547 · Editor: Lew Harris, BA'68