Chancellor’s Lecture Series
The Vanderbilt Chancellor’s Lecture Series strives to connect the university and the Nashville community with leaders and visionaries who are shaping our world. For more information, email cls@vanderbilt.edu.
Registration to attend the spring events will open soon. Join our mailing list to get more information on attending the events.
View previous lecture speakers »
America Ferrera
Monday, February 17, 6:30 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
Langford Auditorium
Panel discussion
Ferrera is an award-winning actor, producer and director. She is currently starring, producing and often directing the groundbreaking comedy Superstore on NBC. Ferrera serves as executive producer of the Latinx dramedy Gentefied, coming to Netflix in 2020. A longtime activist, Ferrera opened the Women’s March on Washington, D.C., in January 2017. She is a co-founder of the organization HARNESS and one of the establishing forces of Time’s Up. She was a co-organizer of the letter of solidarity to U.S. Latinos following the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, and the immigration raid in Mississippi, both in August 2019.
Last fall, she released American Like Me, an anthology of essays written by notable children of immigrants reflecting on their lives between cultures. On Feb. 17, Ferrera will discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion and other themes from her book as part of the Chancellor’s Lecture Series.
John Bolton and Susan Rice
Wednesday, February 19, 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m.)
Langford Auditorium
Moderated conversation
One of America’s most prominent policy voices, Bolton is a lawyer and diplomat who has spent his career fighting to protect American national interests. As National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump, Bolton championed a strong and resolute U.S. foreign and defense policy. He is recognized for his powerful national security influence and past administrative experience, having served in the Ronald Reagan administration and under former presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. As the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Bolton strongly defended American economic and security interests, as he did throughout his time at the State and Justice Departments. During his tenure, he was a leading voice on the need for the Security Council to take strong and meaningful action against international proliferation and terrorism.
Rice served President Barack Obama as National Security Advisor for four years and was the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations. In her role as National Security Advisor from July 1, 2013, to January 20, 2017, Rice led the National Security Council staff of approximately 400 defense, diplomatic, intelligence and development experts. She is currently a Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow at the School of International Service at American University, and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Recalling pivotal moments from her dynamic career on the front lines of American diplomacy and foreign policy, Rice recently penned the New York Times bestseller Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For.
The two national security experts will share their views on how the global economy is affected by the international geopolitical environment and foreign government policies, and how businesses, investors and the government need to respond.
Anderson Cooper
Sunday, March 15, 3:30 p.m. (Doors open at 2:30 p.m.)
Langford Auditorium
Keynote and Q&A
Cooper is the anchor of CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360°, a global newscast that goes beyond the headlines with in-depth reporting and investigations. Cooper also hosts Anderson Cooper Full Circle, a streaming show that airs on CNN’s digital properties each weekday and is also available on demand.
Since the start of his career in 1992, Cooper has worked in more than 40 countries and has covered nearly all major news events around the world, often reporting from the scene. Cooper also has played a pivotal role in CNN’s political and election coverage, anchoring from conventions and moderating several presidential primary debates and town halls.
In addition to his shows on CNN, Cooper is also a regular correspondent for CBS’ 60 Minutes. In 2016, The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss—a collection of correspondence between Anderson and his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt—debuted at the top of the New York Times Best Seller list and remained on the list for three months. Cooper’s first book, Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of Wars, Disaster, and Survival, was published in 2006 and also topped the New York Times Best Seller list and other bestseller charts. He will talk about breaking stereotypes and rising through challenges during the Chancellor’s Lecture Series on March 15.
Caroline Kennedy
Thursday, May 7, 11 a.m. (Doors open at 9:30 a.m.)
Memorial Gym
Keynote
Best-selling author, attorney and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy will receive Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal in May 2020, when she speaks to the university’s graduating students and their families. Kennedy’s address in partnership with the Chancellor’s Lecture Series will take place on Graduates Day, which is May 7, at Memorial Gym. The event, previously known as Senior Day, has been renamed Graduates Day to be more inclusive of all Vanderbilt students, including graduate, professional and undergraduate students, who will earn a degree the following day.
Kennedy, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, has dedicated her life to public and philanthropic service. Kennedy was the first woman to serve as U.S. ambassador to Japan when she was nominated by President Barack Obama in 2013.
For more information on attending the event and other details, please visit the Commencement website.
The information below applies to all events, except for the Caroline Kennedy Graduates Day event.
- All events will take place at Langford Auditorium.
- Admission to all lectures is free, but seating will be on a first-come basis. Registration for each event will open closer to the event, and RSVPs are requested.
- Free parking will be available in the 25th Avenue Garage for the Chancellor’s Lecture Series.
- CART services (live captioning) will be available for hearing-impaired audience members.
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