Dear Vanderbilt students,

I am writing to share the sad news that one of our undergraduate students, Ruth Aklilu, passed away yesterday morning. We offer our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved her.

A sophomore in the College of Arts and Science, Ruth was engaged in a number of activities on campus, including women’s health and wellness organization Studio V, Vanderbilt Effective Altruism, Vanderbilt Initiative for Vegan Activism and the Vanderbilt Prison Project.

This is a terrible loss for our community. Should you need support in processing this difficult news, we encourage you to seek assistance. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the university support resources below.

• Call the University Counseling Center at 615-322-2571 to speak with an on-call behavioral health provider.
• Call or schedule an appointment online with Student Care Coordination, 615-343-WELL (9355).
• Call the Center for Student Wellbeing at 615-322-0480 to schedule an appointment.
• Call the Center for Spiritual and Religious Life at 615-322-2457 for support or for the university’s Griefnet service.

Please know that we are here to assist you in any way possible.

Sincerely,

G.L. Black
Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students