Thank you! I can’t think of a better way to start this note to you given the recent Fall Staff Assembly and season that is upon us. I am grateful to each and every one of you for the hard work and dedication you bring to your work every day and the collective effort that has continued to ensure the university can operate safely once again this academic year in spite of the challenges of the pandemic.

I also want to extend my congratulations to the staff members in our division who received recognition at the Fall Staff Assembly earlier this month. Your strong work ethics, can-do attitudes and willingness to engage in radical collaboration exemplify what our division is all about!

Community Impact Award

Vanderbilt Child and Family Center childcare administration team:

• Sheteka Phillips
• Linda Wilson
• Jamie Broadwater
• Elaine Gallagher
• Angela Jones
• Sophia Murray

Innovation Excellence Award

Double Commencement core team:

• Tamara Cooley, Public Safety
• Johnny Vanderpool, Emergency Preparedness
• Robert West, Plant Operations

Leadership Excellence Award

• Mark Harrington, supervisor of control systems, Utility Distribution

Professional Excellence Award

• Anthony Jones, senior cook at The Commons Dining Center

As we move forward this academic year, we are exploring ways that staff in our division can learn more about the work we do as a whole to serve the university and carry out its mission. The more we understand how the many areas in our division work together as One Vanderbilt, the greater impact we will have on the university community. To this end, I am announcing the launch of a new series called In Focus Sessions that will be open to all staff in our division and are an opportunity to deep dive into key efforts, topics and changes in the Division of Administration.

Please read on to learn more about the In Focus Sessions. I encourage you all to attend!

Thank you once again for all that you do.

Sincerely,

Eric Kopstain,
Vice Chancellor for Administration

IN FOCUS SESSIONS

Interested in learning more about the areas within the Division of Administration? Join us once a month to hear from your fellow colleagues (and subject matter experts!) about topics of interest in the division in our new series of In Focus Sessions.

In Focus Sessions are open to anyone in the division and are opportunities for attendees to learn more about featured topics, goals and achievements, new services being offered, key changes or projects that are underway and much more. Learning about efforts both underway and on the horizon and how the many departments within our division function will foster understanding, reveal opportunities for further collaboration and continuous improvement and highlight how we all work together as One Vanderbilt to support the university’s mission.

In Focus Sessions will be held every third Wednesday of the month from noon to 1:00pm. They will be held virtually via Zoom for the foreseeable future.

Register to attend all sessions on the In Focus Sessions webpage. Topics will be added as they are finalized and announced on the webpage.

• Dec. 15, 2021 – Equal Access: Who we are, where we are, and why we’re here
• Jan. 19, 2022
• Feb. 16, 2022
• March 16, 2022
• April 20, 2022
• May 18, 2022
• June 20, 2022
• July 20, 2022

Please contact ashley.majewski@vanderbilt.edu with any questions.