MAY 2009

Commencement 2009

Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos gave the traditional address to graduating students at Commencement on May 8 and presented Founder's Medals to the top students from each of Vanderbilt's schools. A total of 3,380 degrees were awarded this year: 1,568 to undergraduates and 1,812 to graduate and professional students. See a video of the Commencement ceremony in its entirety. Commencement on Twitter

Peabody College ranked No. 1 in nation

Peabody College ranked No. 1 in nation Vanderbilt's Peabody College of education and human development is the best graduate school of its kind in the nation, according to rankings released by U.S. News & World Report. Vanderbilt University Law School, the School of Medicine, Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management, and the School of Engineering are also ranked. » Full Story

VUMC surgeons separate conjoined twins

Surgeons at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt successfully completed the hospital's first separation of conjoined twins. » Full Story

Opportunity Vanderbilt supports scholarship endowment

This fall Vanderbilt takes a bold and historic step to fulfill the promise of educational opportunity, replacing undergraduate need-based student loans with scholarships and grant assistance. To sustain this commitment the university must increase its scholarship endowment. This effort, called Opportunity Vanderbilt, targets a goal of $100 million in new gifts and pledges for scholarship endowment. Already, scholarship gifts to Vanderbilt's comprehensive Shape the Future campaign have more than doubled the amount of scholarship endowment available at the campaign's inception. But Vanderbilt's scholarship endowment is not yet at the level of many of its peer institutions. Gifts to Opportunity Vanderbilt will change that, helping ensure that young people of every background can attend Vanderbilt, creating a dynamic learning environment that benefits every student. Learn more about Opportunity Vanderbilt.

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 chapter events include:

Atlanta
Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Jacksonville, Fla.
Nashville
New York City
Palm Beach, Fla.

Philadelphia
Phoenix
Richmond, Va.
San Diego
Seattle
St. Louis
Tampa, Fla.
Washington, D.C.

View the current calendar of events planned in your area, and check back frequently.

Join your fellow Commodore fans on the road this fall

The Commodore Tailgate Tour is planning three stops this football season. Join fellow Commodore fans for a tailgate and game at these three road contests: Saturday, Sept. 26, versus Rice in Houston; Saturday, Oct. 10, versus Army in West Point, N.Y.; and Saturday, Nov. 7, versus Florida in Gainesville, Fla. A special travel package will be available for the West Point trip in addition to the tailgate and game package. Visit our tailgate page for timely updates.

Cruise the Great Lakes Aug. 1–8

With vistas of lighthouses on cliff tops, lush forested islands, Victorian villages and Niagara Falls, this Great Lakes cruise is the ideal way to enjoy the pleasures of a grand voyage without having to venture far from home. Cecelia Tichi, William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of English, will be your faculty guide as you travel aboard an all-suite ship from Duluth, Minn., to Toronto. Contact the Vanderbilt Travel Program at 615/322-2929 with questions.

From the Campus

Graduates leave their mark

While each graduating student has a unique and personal story, some of them are truly extraordinary. Here are several remarkable individuals who received their degrees from Vanderbilt this month. » Full Story

Balser promises smooth transition

Jeff Balser, the incoming vice chancellor for health affairs, pledged at a town hall meeting that he would work toward a smooth transition at Vanderbilt Medical Center. » Full Story

Peabody celebrates 30th anniversary of merger

Peabody College celebrated the 30th anniversary of its merger with Vanderbilt by awarding six of its faculty with endowed chairs. » Full Story

Dyer Observatory named to National Register of Historic Places

Vanderbilt's Dyer Observatory has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, the nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. » Full Story

New cancer survivorship clinic is launched

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, in conjunction with the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, is opening a special clinic to serve cancer survivors. » Full Story

Recycling encouraged during 'Move Out' and Commencement

Vanderbilt students were given the opportunity to donate and recycle items from their dorm rooms during "Move Out" week, and the university continued its successful recycling efforts at Commencement. » Full Story

Friday Night Lights, Twitter and Vanderbilt

In a strange case of fiction meeting reality, a Vanderbilt campus official tweeted financial-aid advice to a television character on Friday Night Lights.
» Full Story | Video

Vanderbilt receives Gates grant for global health research

Vanderbilt has received a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to fund a project aimed at fighting malaria. » Full Story

Tichi receives lifetime achievement award

Cecelia Tichi, William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of English, has been named the 2009 winner of the Hubbell Medal, a lifetime achievement award for significantly advancing the study of American literature. » Full Story

Executive MBA program adapts schedule

To accommodate the intense work schedules of rising executives, the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management is transitioning its Executive MBA program to a Saturday-only format. » Full Story

vanderbilt.media
VUCast: Friday Night Lights Twitter and brain scans for criminal thoughts	VUCast: A 'smart helmet' for the troops and remembering Schoolhouse Rock!	Professor of Pediatrics Wendy Stone discusses autism on MSNBC	Vanderbilt students raise money for local playground

Reunion'09 Class Web sites:
1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, Quinqs

Vanderbilt in the News

The Season After at Vanderbilt

The New York Times—After leading Vanderbilt to its first bowl victory in 53 years last season, Vanderbilt Coach Bobby Johnson is still experiencing the positive effects. » Full Story

They don't make populism like they used to

The Wall Street Journal—Today's populism has prompted no large-scale protests in the United States, although populism overseas continues to inspire mass action. Gary Gerstle, James Stahlman Professor of History, is quoted. » Full Story

Former Fed chairman grapples with 'Great Recession'

The Tennessean—Paul Volcker, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, jousted politely with Donald Kohn, the Fed's current vice chairman, during a recent conference sponsored by the Financial Markets Research Center at Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management. » Full Story

Outbreak in Mexico smaller than feared

The New York Times—According to new test results, the swine flu outbreak in Mexico may be considerably smaller than originally feared. Dr. William Schaffner, chair of Vanderbilt's Department of Preventive Medicine, is quoted. » Full Story

Safe haven for pre-doctoral fellows

Inside Higher Ed—Peabody College's Pre-Doctoral Fellows Program provides an unprecedented safety net for students during these tough economic times. » Full Story

Internships: B-schools get creative

BusinessWeek—Sensing the growing desperation among students, career-services officers and deans at top schools are coming up with creative alternatives to help them find summer employment. Joyce Rothenberg, director of career services at Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management, is quoted. » Full Story

Sports News

Moore selected by Chicago in NFL draft

D.J. Moore became the first Vanderbilt cornerback taken in the NFL draft in eight years when the Chicago Bears selected the versatile playmaker in the fourth round. » Full Story

Wirth, Risper drafted by WNBA

The Tennessean—Vanderbilt's Christina Wirth and Jennifer Risper were selected in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky, respectively. » Full Story

Risper named Defensive Player of the Year

Nashville City Paper—Vanderbilt's Jennifer Risper was named the Division I Defensive Player of the Year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. » Full Story

Earnest wins Bowler of the Year again

Vanderbilt's Josie Earnest was named the NCAA Bowler of the Year for the second consecutive year and joined two teammates as first-team All-Americans. » 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

Pave the way with
your own brick

Vanderbilt fans can now purchase personalized bricks to be installed in two beautiful walkways leading to the newly renovated east and west gates at Vanderbilt Stadium. » Build your brick

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Reunion'09 Class Web sites: 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, Quinqs

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Reunion'09 Class Web sites:
1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, Quinqs