Student Organizations
Student Organizations
SCSJI advocates for diverse populations of students by intentionally advising and holistically supporting the needs and issues surrounding and affecting them. We advise the 31 organizations listed below:
President: Tabitha See Ya Lee
Advisor: B. Antonella Valdivia
Description: Our purpose is to promote and provide a cultural and political awareness of Asian and Asian-American customs and diversity within the University and local community.
Annual Event: Lunar New Year Festival (LNYF) is the Asian American Student Association’s (AASA) biggest event! The New Year is one of the most honored and celebrated traditions in Asian cultures. AASA celebrates Asian New Year with food, cultural dances, singing and theatrical performances by members of AASA, other student organizations, and even the local community. In addition to the show AASA provides dinner.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/AASA
Website: http://www.vandyaasa.com/
President: Shelby Kuehnle
Advisors: B. Antonella Valdivia
Description: Our mission is to provide a culturally diverse community that embraces the unique qualities of Latin American Countries.
Annual Events: Cafe con Leche – A cultural showcase sharing the experience of Latino and Hispanic heritage. We encourage and engage the Vanderbilt community to learn more about our culture through a collection of dance, music and food.
Sabor Latino-We wrap Hispanic Heritage Month with a bang! Sabor Latino is VAHS’ way to celebrate ourselves in the fall. We serve delicious catered food and social dance and the best part is that the entire campus is invited!
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/vanderbiltassociationofhispanicstudents
Website: https://studentorg.vanderbilt.edu/alas/
President: Martin Aleman
Advisors: Brittany Pomilee
Description: The mission of our organization is to establish a solid network for faculty and students to be able to join efforts to solve the most pressing issues faced by developing countries. Moreover, we want to bring in the perspective of international students in Vanderbilt from the countries in focus. We will strive to promote conscientious, innovative, and practical solutions to these problems. All these, in combination with the academic and intellectual capital present in Vanderbilt, will help us develop projects that can be successfully applied to a range of niche issues overlooked in mainstream political economy circles.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/augnacion
President: Laith Kayat
Advisor: Brittany Pomilee
Description: DSP, a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, is a secular, student-led human rights advocacy group comprised of students, faculty, and staff of various backgrounds. DSP is organized according to democratic principles in order to promote justice, human rights, liberation, and self-determination for the Palestinian people. DSP believes that while the Palestinian people must ultimately be able to decide their future in Palestine, certain key principles, grounded in international law, human rights, and basic standards of justice, are fundamental to a just resolution of the plight of the Palestinians. Moreover, DSP believes that the occupation of Palestine and the systems of injustice present in the state of Israel can only end when citizens of conscious from all backgrounds come together to call on those in power to be held accountable. Therefore, DSP welcomes people of all races, religions, and sexual orientations. Since DSP is committed to ending racism in Israel and Palestine, it rejects and will not tolerate any form of hatred or discrimination towards any religious, ethnic, or racial groups.
DSP aims to uphold the Vanderbilt Community Creed through its solidarity with the oppressed by abiding by the following set of values: scholarship, honesty, civility, accountability, caring, discovery, and celebration.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/dsp
President: Danait Issac
Advisor: Brittany Pomilee
Description: The Ethiopian and Eritrean Student Association has a mission to promote culture, community, education, and fun. We’ve done this in the past by hosting study events, hosting culturally educational events, and participating in one of Vanderbilt’s greatest cultural events: Harambee. While we had planned to host a mini week with our own grand event with performances, food, music, and a fashion showcase, the pandemic hit that same week and we had to cancel. Nevertheless, we’ve had great success this semester despite the pandemic. We have had several events including an in-person socially distanced event, virtual community bonding events, and a speaker series featuring Wubetu Shimelash (Filmmaker, Public Speaker, Humanitarian, and Co-Founder of Eco-Trek). We also plan to have many more events next semester and potentially another mini week with a cultural showcase. Our current goals are to be more civically aware and engaged in the social, political, and economic news of our countries back home. We are accomplishing this by inviting speakers from back home educate us virtually. Overall, we’ve had a great semester and we are very excited for the next. We ask you all to please join us in our journey of learning, tasting, listening, and generally enjoying the Ethiopian-Eritrean culture and community.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/ethiopianeritrean
Presidents: Ben Vahradian and Chenyu He
Advisor: Miso Kim and Brittany Pomilee
Description:
The objectives of GCC are to:
- Create business, networking or internship opportunities for students and their international counterparts to socialize, learn, and work together.
- Bring together GCC members for learning, networking, and developing future professional opportunities through on-campus events, educational seminars, telecommunications, and multimedia tools.
- Advance international trust and understanding within GCC members and alums personal and professional relationships.
- Promote high ethical standards for GCC members’ academic, professional, and personal lives along with a commitment to make the world a better place through this lifelong fellowship.
- Have fun together.
They were founded in 2008 and had 58 chapters worldwide. For more information, please check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_China_Connection.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/gccvanderbilt
President: Kaylin Davis
Advisor: Dr. Ashley Brown
Description: Spurring from a desire to highlight the experiences of students of color on Vanderbilt’s campus, the Hidden Dores Movement began in the spring of 2014 as a photo campaign to display instances of marginalization on campus. Now the organization has grown to encompass several committees that work to induce structural change in our university and stimulate conversations about the identities and marginalization of students of color at Vanderbilt.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/HiddenDores
Presidents: Annabelle Littlejohn-Bailey and Dante Reyna
Advisor: B. Antonella Valdivia
Description: Formerly known as NATIVe, The Indigenous Scholars Organization (ISO) aspires to serve a critical role in promoting the cultural knowledge and community involvement of its members in a collaborative environment, as well as educating the broader Vanderbilt and Nashville community about Indigenous cultures. By fostering an atmosphere that promotes social engagement and group support, we hope to cultivate a close-knit community with a collective vision at the institutional level, to increase Indigenous presence at Vanderbilt University. Additionally, we aim to serve the surrounding Indigenous communities and those without origins of Indigeneity to the Americas, in a State without formal American Indian/Alaska Native representation. ISO embraces all Indigenous students, regardless of tribal enrollment, status, or blood quantum. This includes students from Native American, Alaska Native, First Nation, and Pacific Islander backgrounds. We welcome any student committed to learning about Indigenous cultures and their responsible representation at Vanderbilt University.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/iso
President: Hans Zhao
Advisor: Dr. Ashley Brown
Description: Vanderbilt University International Student Council (ISC) is a non-political and non-profit student organization. The goal of ISC is to unite all the undergraduate and graduate international students on campus, and acts as a programming platform to promote cultural diversity to the Vanderbilt and Nashville communities. ISC dedicates to promote mutual cultural and intellectual sharing among international students and American students, to promote the welfare of international students, and to work as a liaison between ISSS and international students.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/iscouncil
President:
Advisor: Brittany Pomilee
Description: The Japanese Cultural Foundation works closely with Vanderbilt’s Japanese community and the Asian Studies Department to promote interest and awareness of Japan and its culture. Our operations are centered around monthly events where students interact with each other in a Japanese cultural setting. Some of our representative events include Japanese Haunted House, Cherry Blossom Viewing, and an end of semester destress event. Japanese Cultural Foundation also collaborates with the MLC and AASA to engage with the larger student body in educational and recreational cultural events.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/jcf
President: Lillian Zheng
Advisor: Brittany Pomilee
Description: Justice Through Code (JTC) works to solve the crisis of mass incarceration by offering life-changing access to career-track opportunities in the technology industry to people impacted by the mass incarceration crisis. JTC seeks to tackle mass incarceration by addressing two of the most significant contributors to recidivism: a lack of job training and the subsequently high rates of unemployment for the formerly incarcerated. In response to these challenges, JTC aims to equip participants with the requisite skills to embark on a sustainable career in the tech industry through a semester-long coding intensive that includes interpersonal skills training and networking opportunities. The goal is for JTC students to emerge as competitive applicants for jobs, internships, or future job/tech training.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/justicethroughcode
President: Josiah Won
Advisor: Kauthar Gaber
Description: Spurring from a desire to highlight the experiences of students of color on Vanderbilt’s campus, the Hidden Dores Movement began in the spring of 2014 as a photo campaign to display instances of marginalization on campus. Now the organization has grown to encompass several committees that work to induce structural change in our university and stimulate conversations about the identities and marginalization of students of color at Vanderbilt.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/kusa
President: Eugenia Zavaleta
Advisor: Kauthar Gaber
Description: LACS is a school-wide organization that aims to bring together people from the geographical and historical areas of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and South America, as well as those who are interested or passionate about the region. They are a pluralistic and inclusive organization seeking to build community and cultural awareness among Vanderbilt graduate students and Nashville at large. They aim to serve as a gathering point for people of Latin America and the Caribbean, to be a support for international students from the region who are already in Nashville or are coming next year, and to make ourselves present on the Vanderbilt campus and in Nashville in diverse ways.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/lacs
President: Leydi Alatorre Medina
Advisor: B. Antonella Valdivia
Description: The Mexican-American Student Association (MASA) is a new student organization that aims to create a space for Mexican American members of the Vanderbilt community to meet, relate to one another, create community, and discuss their triumphs and struggles while representing and sharing their Mexican culture with others.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/lacs
President: Laith Kayat
Advisor: Kauthar Gaber
Description:
Annual Events:
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/MESA
President: Safa Shahzad
Advisor: Dr. Ashley Brown
Description: Growing from a desire to increase cooperation and communication among the existing multicultural student organizations and to establish a dedicated body to advocate for and to address issues facing the student community, LDIA, Vanderbilt Student Government, and other cultural organizations collaborated to initiate the formation of the Multicultural Leadership Council (MLC). The council is comprised of over 25 student organizations. It serves as a steering committee for the student organizations under its umbrella by implementing programs and addressing needs of the cultural minority students, as well as educating the Vanderbilt community on issues of diversity and cultural awareness.
Annual Event: InVUsion, the MLC’s cornerstone event, is a great opportunity to experience the vibrancy of Vanderbilt’s diversity. It’s an incredible day filled with singing, dancing, awesome food, and incredible people.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/mlc
President: Asya Miles
Advisor: Dr. Ashley Brown
Description: The Vanderbilt NAACP Chapter works diligently to implement programs and events that cater to our organization’s national initiatives in order to seek justice and awareness of issues that affect communities of color. They are organized into three committees in addition to the executive board: Political Activism, Social Justice, and Community Service that each address issues relevant to the campus community and the greater Nashville area.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/vanderbiltnaacp
President: Muhammad Fasih Khizar
Advisor: Brittany Pomilee
Description: The purpose of the PSA shall be to educate the Vanderbilt community about Pakistan through cultural showcases, social events, and educational seminars. The PSA’s ultimate goal is to highlight the different facets of Pakistani heritage and identity with its various nuances to eliminate stereotypes and promote harmony. The PSA aims to contribute to the intellectual diversity of the Vanderbilt community and create an atmosphere of acceptance at Vanderbilt.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/psa
President: Micha Emmanuel Bermoy
Advisors: B. Antonella Valdivia
Description: PISO serves the undergraduate community at Vanderbilt University by providing opportunities for students to observe, participate, and share authentic aspects of Filipino culture. These include cuisine, couture, performing arts aesthetics, music, etc.
Annual Event: Kamayan Feast – Kamayan, in Tagalog, means “with your hands”, which is exactly what we’re going to eat with! A Kamayan dinner is a Filipino feast in which you eat unimaginable amounts of delicious food off of banana leaves at a communal table with just your hands. Don’t worry–we’ll give you instructions (and provide utensils if you want them). Join us for great Filipino food, to meet new people, and to experience a taste of traditional culture!
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/PISO
President: Perla Salazar-Rangel
Advisors: B. Antonella Valdivia
Description: PLASA – Peabody Latinx Alumni and Student Association aims to connect alumni and students of Latinx backgrounds at Peabody College to foster a supportive community rich with culture. PLASA serves as an organization dedicated to establishing meaningful relationships and mentorships with fellow Latinx alumni and students in educational spaces. PLASA’s goals include organizing to ensure our academic spaces are inclusive. We want to address how Latinx people are represented and treated in all academic institutions and what we can do to enact change.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/vanderbiltassociationofhispanicstudents
Website: https://studentorg.vanderbilt.edu/alas/
President: Min Kalasikam and Gayatri Aluri
Advisor: Ashley Brown
Description: Formerly South Asian Refugee and Resettlement Aid) We are a group that volunteers with the Tennessee Resettlement Aid to hold biweekly conversation hours with Afghani refugee women in Nashville to help improve their English skills and help provide them with the tools necessary to succeed here in the US. We also work to support community aid and build systems of support in rural regions of South Asia and in refugee communities in Nashville and America!
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/
President: Vivek Kumar
Advisors: Kauthar Gaber
Description: SACE is an organization made up of over 200 Vanderbilt undergraduates dedicated to representing, celebrating, and sharing South Asian culture at Vanderbilt and in the greater Nashville area.
Annual Events: The Dances of South Asia (TDS) – An exhibition of South Asian culture, TDS is the festival of lights, a symbolic triumph of light and knowledge over ignorance and darkness. At Vanderbilt University, TDS program is a well established performance attracting around 1500 people from the Vanderbilt community and the greater Nashville area to watch as the members of Masala-SACE (South Asian Cultural Exchange) perform various cultural acts ranging from dances to musical performances to drama.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/sace
President: Fiona Wu
Advisors: Miso Kim
Description:
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/tasa
President: Mariam Nadi
Advisors: Kauthar Gaber
Description: University students as well as the surrounding community can work to combat poverty and homelessness here in Nashville. Additionally, Vanderbilt UMR hopes to fundraise for and spread awareness about global initiatives to provide access to clean water, quality healthcare, and basic social services to underdeveloped populations overseas. Through our service, members aim to develop their leadership skills.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/umr
President: Nafis Ahmed
Advisor: B. Antonella Valdivia
Description:To educate the Vanderbilt community about the rich Bengali culture – a culture with which over 250 million people all over the world identify.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/vbs
Presidents: Andrea Burgess and Noah Sommer
Advisor: Kauthar Gaber
Description: Formally the Vanderbilt Hellenic* Students’ Association, Greek Club strives to be a space that not only connects us by our heritage but our love of strangers and friends. We strive for a space welcome to all those who enjoy Greek culture, the mediterranean lifestyle, food, festivals, dancing, and the occasional breaking of a plate, so come hang out with us! Show up to a GBM or hop on the list-serv to be kept in the loop about all things Greek club that you can show up to outside a GBM – volunteering, Greek dancing, grabbing a gyro. The mission of the Vanderbilt Hellenic Students’ Association (VHSA) is to foster community, thought, and connection amongst Commodores of Hellenic descent and all members of the Vanderbilt community interested in Hellenic culture, language, and history.
*Hellenic: the original word for a person of Greek origin is actually “Hellene,” which means child of the sun.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/vandygreekclub
Presidents: Shreya Shrestha
Advisors: Emma Baker and Kauthar Gaber
Description: The purpose of the Vanderbilt Nepali Students Association (VNSA) is to educate the Vanderbilt community about Nepal and Nepali culture and to help international students from Nepal in cultural, academic, and social adjustment at Vanderbilt University. VNSA plans to do so by organizing various cultural events, seminars, and social events throughout the year.
The events organized by NSA will provide a culturally immersive experience to Vanderbilt students and will allow them to learn about Nepali heritage. NSA will also provide a platform for Vanderbilt students to discuss social, cultural, and political issues regarding Nepal.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/nepalistudentassociation
Presidents: Alexis Nguyen
Advisor: Kauthar Gaber
Description: The Vietnamese Student Association at Vanderbilt University strives to spread the understanding and admiration of what constitutes a resilient Vietnamese identity — our culture, our history, and our peoples.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/vsa
President: Julie Yu
Advisors: Kauthar Gaber
Description: Founded in 2007, the mission of VUCA is to promote Chinese culture and facilitate Chinese language learning across Vanderbilt undergraduate and graduate populations. VUCA welcomes everyone who is curious about, interested in, or in love with Chinese language or culture. Our organization is truly cultural, recreational, and educational. We host events with a mission to welcome students to the Chinese culture and engage them through meaningful, fun activities. Our events are a great opportunity for participants to not only enjoy the culture, but also each other’s company. Needless to say, participants at our meetings and Chinese Corners learn something new about the country, the language, or the culture each time before they leave.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/vuca
President: Kaiwen Shi
Advisors: Kauthar Gaber
Description:VUCSSA is a non-political and non-profit student organization. The goal of VUCSSA is to provide services, activities and communication platforms among Chinese students and scholars at Vanderbilt, as well as to promote cultural and intellectual exchanges between China and the United States.
Anchorlink: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/organization/vucssa