Application Process
Applications for the 2026-2027 cohort open on January 20, 2026 and close on March 2, 2026. If you are selected for an interview, you will be notified by mid-March. Interviews will take place directly after spring break. Fill out an application at: http://vanderbilt.erezlife.com/Faculty and staff are welcome to submit nominations for students they think would be a good fit with the Academy. Send nominations to: jill.a.stratton@vanderbilt.edu
Eligibility
Any Vanderbilt undergraduate in their sophomore, junior, or senior year is eligible to apply for the Live. Learn. Lead. Academy. At this time, we are unable to accommodate students going abroad.
Time Commitment
The Live. Learn. Lead. Academy is a year-long program designed for a small, high-engagement cohort of undergraduates committed to personal growth, leadership development, and community impact. Selected students are expected to participate fully in all program events and responsibilities, totaling approximately 12 hours per month. These commitments include:
- Community service
- Thrive dinners
- Roundtable discussions
- Reflections on readings
- Networking and leadership interviews
- Planning, attending, or executing author events
In the spring semester, students also take part in planning and delivering the annual Leadership Symposium. Together, these experiences create a comprehensive and meaningful leadership journey throughout both the fall and spring semesters.
Expectations
This course is a seminar, so its success relies on your commitment and active participation. Attendance and class participation are required. The focus of student participation will be on quality not quantity. Students are encouraged to think critically, analyze course materials, ask relevant questions, and reflect on their role as an engaged leader.Outside of class and assignments, students are required to attend several events throughout the year including but not limited to the annual symposium, monthly thrive dinners, and book talks. Required programs will be noted on the syllabus.Students will lead and participate in a service project in partnership with the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge. Students will provide support to patients and caregivers by engaging with patients and their families twice a month at Hope Lodge as they share a meal and facilitate a craft project using their listening skills, empathy, and organizational abilities. The Academy will lead six sessions at Hope Lodge, and students will be expected to attend four out of the six sessions.
