A transformative gift from Vanderbilt parents Laurel and Cliff Asness of Greenwich, Connecticut, to the Vanderbilt Institute of National Security and the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation will have a significant impact on the future of national security and neurodiversity. The gift highlights the extraordinary support of the Vanderbilt community and underscores the ongoing momentum of the university’s historic Dare to Grow campaign which surpassed its original goal of $3.2 billion 20 months ahead of schedule. Additionally, the campaign has exceeded $3.5 billion in its final nine months.
The generosity of the Asnesses includes $10 million to support the Institute of National Security—its largest gift since launching one year ago—to fuel the university’s bold vision for national leadership in security research and talent development. In recognition of this support, the university will rename the institute’s signature program the Asness Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats.
An additional $1.25 million for the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation will sustain the center’s student training and workforce development programs to maximize neurodiverse talent within and into the workforce.
“This investment from Laurel and Cliff Asness will accelerate Vanderbilt’s impact on society by supporting two vital areas of focus,” Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said. “The work of the Institute of National Security and the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation represents Vanderbilt’s commitment to addressing our most complex and pressing challenges. We are grateful for this most generous gift.”
Cliff and Laurel Asness have made a generous gift to the Vanderbilt Institute of National Security. This support will help advance the university’s bold vision for national leadership in security research and talent development.
As a part of the Institute of National Security’s commitment to research, collaborative programming and education across disciplines to address today’s most pressing challenges, its annual Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats (now named in honor of the Asnesses) convenes leaders and experts from the military, intelligence and technology sectors to address pressing issues such as cyber conflict, artificial intelligence, peer competition and emerging threats. In the process, Vanderbilt students across disciplines have the opportunity to see the intersection of these areas as they relate to national security.
“The work of the Institute of National Security and the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation represents Vanderbilt’s commitment to addressing our most complex and pressing challenges. We are grateful for this most generous gift.”
“This gift is a powerful endorsement of our mission to become the nation’s premier university for national security solutions,” said General Paul M. Nakasone, founding director of the institute. “It will allow us to expand our efforts to educate the next generation of leaders, innovate alongside national security professionals and convene thought leaders to address the most urgent challenges facing our nation.”
The Asness Family Fund, established to support the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, will be used to sustain the Frist Center’s summer internship and graduate certificate programs. This support will provide for essential program needs, including a full-time staff instructor, fellowships for graduate students and an annual cohort of undergraduate interns.
“We are immensely grateful to the Asnesses for their generous and heartfelt support, especially at a time of great uncertainty in the federal funding landscape, which will allow us to provide transformative opportunities for our neurodiverse students without interruption,” said Keivan Stassun, founding director of the Frist Center. “Their commitment will help us further our bold mission to bring together engineers, business scholars, researchers and clinical experts to maximize neurodiverse talent in our society.”
The Asnesses’ support of Vanderbilt University’s Frist Center for Autism and Innovation will help sustain the center’s student training and workforce development programs aimed at maximizing neurodiverse talent.
The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation fosters a strengths-based understanding of neurodiversity that honors lived experiences by driving real needs-based solutions. With the goals of enhancing quality of life for neurodiverse people and improving business and society, the center realizes opportunities for innovation in technology, business models, talent development, future-leader training and workplace practices.
“Their commitment will help us further our bold mission to bring together engineers, business scholars, researchers and clinical experts to maximize neurodiverse talent in our society.”
The Asnesses’ support will advance collaborative research and education with broad reach and will ultimately have a lasting, positive impact on students and society.
“As Vanderbilt parents, we have witnessed firsthand the university’s culture of innovation and its dedication to solving real-world problems,” Laurel Asness said. “The work of the Institute of National Security and the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation are prime examples of this spirit.”
“We are honored to invest in the vision of both these initiatives. Our hope is that our commitment will inspire others to join us in supporting these crucial areas of research and education that empower students and advance our nation’s capabilities, or to support their own shared passion at Vanderbilt,” Cliff Asness added.
“This generous gift from the Asness family reinforces our mission at the School of Engineering to solve the societal and scientific grand challenges of our era,” said Krish Roy, the Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of Engineering and University Distinguished Professor. “The Institute of National Security and the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation both lead the way in reaching across disciplines and areas of expertise to create real-world solutions in key areas of pressing interest.”
“We are honored to invest in the vision of both these initiatives. Our hope is that our commitment will inspire others to join us in supporting these crucial areas of research and education that empower students and advance our nation’s capabilities, or to support their own shared passion at Vanderbilt.”
Dare to Grow
Support for the Dare to Grow campaign catalyzes some of the university’s most groundbreaking initiatives, including the Institute of National Security, Vandy United, Vanderbilt’s enhanced presence in New York City and West Palm Beach, signature programs like Opportunity Vanderbilt, residential colleges and many more.