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VU Cares Fellowship

The VU CARES Fellowship equips faculty with the knowledge and tools needed to recognize student well-being concerns, respond effectively, and strengthen a culture of care and support across Vanderbilt.

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About

This fellowship is an opportunity for faculty to become a VU CARES Fellow and learn about topics such as:

  • Helping students in distress
  • Behavior intervention strategies
  • Creating a sense of belonging in the classroom
  • Suicide prevention certification
Participants will receive an $1,000 stipend (subject to tax)

VU CARES Fellows

  • Summer 2025 Inaugural Cohort

    Blair School of Music

    • Daniel Taylor, Assistant Professor, Instrumental Music Education
    • Dashon Burton, Assistant Professor, Music
    • Isidora Miranda, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Musicology and Ethnomusicology
    • Molly Barth, Associate Professor, Flute
    • Tyler Nelson, Associate Professor, Voice

    College of Arts and Science

    • Adeana McNicholl, Assistant Professor, Religious Studies
    • Justin Quarry, Principal Senior Lecturer, English
    • Mark Sanchez, Assistant Professor, Asian Studies
    • Meredyth Wegener, Senior Lecturer, Neuroscience (DUS)
    • Antonia Kaczkurkin, Assistant Professor, Psychology
    • Ashleigh Maxcey, Senior Lecturer, Psychology
    • Gretchen Selcke, Principal Senior Lecturer, Latino and Latina Studies
    • Jaime Bruce, Senior Lecturer, Medicine, Health, and Society
    • Juan Andres Gannon, Assistant Professor, Political Science
    • Rena A.S. Robinson, Professor, Chemistry
    • Thomas Clements, Senior Lecturer, Biological Sciences
    • Susan Dine, Senior Lecturer, History of Art and Architecture 
    • Brian Bill, Senior Lecturer, Biological Sciences

    Peabody College

    • Andrea Capizzi, Associate Professor of the Practice, Special Education (DUS)
    • Kimberly Marble, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Psychology and Human Development

    College of Connected Computing

    • Bryan Ward, Assistant Professor, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering
    • Julie Johnson, Professor of the Practice, Computer Science (DUS)
    • Tyler Derr, Assistant Professor, Computer Science

    School of Engineering

    • Allison Pereira, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
    • Amanda Lowery, Professor of the Practice, Biomedical Engineering (DUS)
    • Lori Troxel, Professor of the Practice, Civil and Environmental Engineering (DUS)
    • Tom Withrow, Associate Dean and Professor of the Practice, Mechanical Engineering
    • Walter Collett,  Professor of the Practice, Electrical and Computer Engineering
    • Ghina Absi, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Eligibility & Requirements

  • Eligibility
    • Each of 3 cohorts will be limited to 30 faculty member,
    • Faculty must be full-time (tenure stream or continuing track),
    • Preference will be given to faculty who primarily teach undergraduate students
  • Requirements

    participants must be able to:

    • Attend one full-day training (May 12, June 1, or July 13, 2026),
    • Attend one 2-hour follow up meeting in Fall 2026,
    • Complete all relevant pre- and post-assessments, and
    • Facilitate a pre-prepared 5-10 min presentation within their home department.

Nominate

Interested or know a colleague who is deserving of this opportunity? 
(Self-nominations accepted)

The nomination period will be open March 2-18, 2026. 

Submit a nomination!

Contact Us

Please email with StudentCareNetwork@vanderbilt.edu with any questions.

Fellowship developed in collaboration with Student Care Network, The Office of Faculty Development and AdvancED.

Additional Resources

Faculty Mental Health/Wellbeing Resources