Impact Stories
Vanderbilt dares to grow. And you—our talented and courageous community of alumni, students, families, faculty, staff and friends—are part of this ambitious journey.
Stories of impact demonstrate how your contributions create ripples that transform lives—and will define Vanderbilt as the great university of the 21st century.
Radical Collaboration
Dare to Grow campaign reaches $3.2B goal early, establishing launching pad for more far-reaching impact
Growth & Innovation
Advancing breast reconstruction surgery
Dedication to advancing breast reconstruction surgery for patients links Perdikis, Maxwell
Access & Empowerment
Give to live
Charles Donald and Roberta Lemons Miller set a goal to make an impact
Access & Empowerment
Connections across a lifetime
The power of relationships and shared experiences in alumni engagement
Access & Empowerment
Sharing blessings for a healthier tomorrow
Dr, Kenneth Chastain and his late wife, Jan, are advancing innovative research
Access & Empowerment
A teaching legacy
Bess Parks, PhD'78, endows a scholarship in elementary education in honor of her mother
Access & Empowerment
A meaningful investment
Bob Frutchey, MBA'95, reflects on how his experience at Owen fueled his philanthropy
Access & Empowerment
Kevin and Gloria Churchwell Honor Parents Through Undergraduate Scholarship
The legacy of Mary Churchwell and Robert Churchwell Sr. was recently honored by the establishment of the Robert Sr. and Mary Churchwell Undergraduate Scholarship.
All Stories
Eight Students selected for new cohort of Ingram Scholars
Six incoming first-year students and two rising sophomores have been selected for the Ingram Scholars Program
Bold Gift Fuels Future of Vanderbilt Basketball
$20 million matching gift supercharges basketball practice facility, seeks to inspire alumni to lead Vandy United’s Dare to Grow phase
Vanderbilt to establish a college dedicated to computing, AI and data science
Vanderbilt has begun work to establish a transformative college dedicated to computer science, AI, data science and related fields
VUSN matching program to inspire philanthropy, drive research and work to ease health inequities
In support of its commitment to fighting health inequities, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing has launched an ambitious campaign to raise and match $1 million to support health disparity research.
Vanderbilt Launches McGee Applied Research Center for Narrative Studies
The center will promote media literacy by providing resources to evaluate the objectivity of news coverage, digital media and other narratives.
Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery Launches Philanthropic Matching
Vanderbilt enhances its commitment to translational neuroscience research with a one-to-one match for new endowed gifts to the Warren Center
Lead Gift Launches Hawkins Field Enhancements
Anonymous baseball alumnus’ matching pledge challenges fellow alumni to lead the way in reimagination of Vanderbilt baseball home
Vandy United Begins Next Chapter
After reaching its initial $300 Million Goal, Vandy United launches a new phase, building on its foundation with more facilities and operational enhancements.
Vanderbilt University and MNPS launch partnership to boost college admissions from Nashville schools
The program, which will launch with the admissions cycle for first-year students entering Vanderbilt in fall 2025, offers a direct cost scholarship to MNPS students who meet certain criteria.
Transformational Gift Establishes Roberts Academy and Dyslexia Center
A gift from Hal and Marjorie Hollis Roberts will establish a new academy for primary students with dyslexia and an innovative center focused on outreach and dyslexia research.
Berg Family Gift to Support the Arts at Vanderbilt
The Landmark Gift Will Establish the Berg Global Artist-in-Residence Program to Bring Visiting Artists to Campus, and Two Berg Dean’s Faculty Fellowships in the College of Arts and Science
Conway-Welch Family Foundation Gift to Honor Longtime Dean
The Conway-Welch Second Degree in Nursing Scholarship is the First Major Gift Made Toward the Master of Nursing Program, Which Was Launched in 2023 to Help Address the Nationwide Shortage of Registered Nurses
Opening ’Dores in Hollywood
A New Scholarship Established by Rich Hull, BA’92, Supports Students Pursuing Internships in Hollywood
Planned Giving Sparks Creativity in Owen's Deaner Scholarship
Bryan Deaner, MBA’93, Invests in Future Generations Through Deaner Creativity Scholarship
Ingram Scholars Program Celebrates 30 Years
A Transformative Scholarship Program at Vanderbilt is Celebrating its 30th Anniversary
Unprecedented Impact
Jennifer and Billy Frist’s Historic Gift to Be Commemorated with Frist Athletics Village
Immersion Vanderbilt Receives $6.8 Million Gift
The Education Enhancement Fund Will Provide Funding to Students to Carry Out Creative and Ambitious Projects that Deepen Their Intellect and Broaden Their Horizons
Nashville Metro Council to Honor Vanderbilt’s Nichols Humanitarian Fund
The Nichols Humanitarian Fund Provides Support for Vanderbilt Students to Pursue Humanitarian Immersive Experiences Locally and Globally
From Vanderbilt to the U.S. Debate Team
Daniel Ardity, Class of 2024, Earned a Place on the U.S. Debate Team
Twelve at Vanderbilt are Among World’s Highly Cited Researchers
Vanderbilt’s Twelve are Among Highly Cited Researchers Around the World Whose Publications Rank in the Top 1 Percent
Vanderbilt Named Spoke in ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub
Vanderbilt’s Partnership with the ARPANET-H Investor Catalyst Hub Will Accelerate the Delivery of Equitable Health Care Solutions to Communities In Need.
‘Nature’ Conference Fosters Radical Collaboration
Researchers from around the globe gathered for the inaugural Nature conference “Bioengineering for Global Health” at Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Announces Inaugural Literary Prize
The New Prize Comes as Vanderbilt Marks its Sesquicentennial by Honoring its Strong Connection to the Arts
Fighting Infectious Diseases With AI-Focused Immersion Vanderbilt Project
Karen Pu, Class of 2024, Is Expanding the Power of Computer Modeling to Identify Mutating Viruses—And Potentially Improve Vaccines
Vanderbilt’s Radical Collaboration With Army Pathfinder Program
Vanderbilt Is Moving Tech From the Lab to the Front Lines With Solutions Tailored to Real-World Army Challenges
Vanderbilt Unveils Quantum Potential
Radiolab Founder and Faculty Member Jad Abumrad Hosts This Marquee Video Series Featuring the Remarkable Research and Innovation Taking Place at Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Launches Center for Research on Inequality and Health
The Center Brings Together Deep Scholarly Strengths in Population Health Science; LGBTQ+ Health Policy; Gun Violence; and Economic and Social Inequality—And Explores How They Impact Health.
Vanderbilt Strengthens Partnership with Posse Foundation
Vanderbilt Will Add Two Additional Cohorts of Posse Scholars in 2024, Provide Full Tuition Scholarships up to the Cost of Attendance
Vanderbilt Launches Innovation Catalyst Fund
A New Internal Funding Program is Aimed at Moving Translational Research and Innovation Into Real-world Solutions More Quickly
Vanderbilt Joins The Precisionists, Creates Careers for Neurodiverse Individuals
The Precisionists Announced the Expansion of its Neurodiversity Employment Program in Nashville at an Event Hosted by Vanderbilt’s Frist Center for Autism and Innovation
$52 Million NIH Grant Brings ELVIS to University, Medical Center
Biomedical Scientists at VUMC Are Launching a Research Platform Devoted to Molecular Underpinnings of Early-Childhood Determinants of Health
J. Michael Campbell Scholarship
New VLS Scholarship Endowed in Honor of J. Michael Campbell ’68 (BE’65)
Black Holes In Our Universe
Globally Recognized Astrophysicist Teaches Cutting-Edge Astronomy Concepts to Undergraduates From All Majors
Vandy United Ushers in New Era at Hawkins Field
Major Enhancements to Iconic Home of the Two-Time National Champion VandyBoys Will Create Unique Game Day Experience
Skyscrapers for the Homeless
Alumna Ariana Fowler credits Opportunity Vanderbilt for life-changing college experience
The Future of Free Speech
Global Think Tank Justitia Opens First U.S. Office at Vanderbilt, Expands the Future of Free Speech Project
Interdisciplinary Exploration
Weaver Family Program in Law, Brain Sciences, and Behavior Established at VLS with $3.85 Million Endowment From Weaver Foundation
Pulitzer Prize Winning Faculty
Vanderbilt Social, Political Historian Jefferson Cowie Wins Pulitzer for ‘Freedom’s Dominion: a Saga of White Resistance To Federal Power’
Future of Learning and Generative AI
New Initiative Will Enhance Research Connected To The Growing Use Of Artificial Intelligence
Unique Collaboration
Vanderbilt DSI and Women’s Basketball Team Collaborate Using Data Science to Improve Performance While Reducing Risk of Injury
Immersion Vanderbilt Student Spotlight
Vanderbilt student Shahar Harman discusses his international project with Immersion Vanderbilt and how the work shaped his experiences during college.
VU-Initiated Startup Receives $30M
Alumni-Led Zeno Power To Build Nuclear-Powered Satellite For The U.S. Space Force
Working Together for Social Impact
Nashville Community Leaders Came Together at Vanderbilt to Discuss Power Dynamics in Collaborating for Social Impact
TEAM TN Collaboration to Advance Next-Generation Transportation
Vanderbilt, UT–Knoxville and more than 100 partner organizations join forces to develop mobility solutions
Student Startup Bloom Health Wins $120K Investment Prize
The Startup’s Mission is to Improve Standards for Women’s Health by Providing Women Around the World with Access to Reproductive Education
Novel Device Radically Improves Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Surgery
A Medical Device Company Co-Founded by a Vanderbilt Engineering Professor Announces Successful First-in-Human Clinical Study
Vanderbilt Generates More Than $96M in Licensing Revenue in FY23
By Continuing to Break Records for Licensing Revenue, Vanderbilt Demonstrates Our Growing Capacity for Making a Difference in the World
Summer Bridge Program Helps First-Year Engineers Find Success
The All-Expenses Paid Program Builds Skills, Fosters Sense of Belonging
Ingram Scholars Program Recognizes Heuser's Service
Ingram Scholars Combine Educational Pursuits With A Commitment To Community Service And Philanthropy
Vanderbilt Partnership Boosts Financial Aid Packages for Veterans
Eligible Veterans Can Attend Vanderbilt at a Significantly Reduced Cost Thanks to Yellow Ribbon GI Educational Enhancement Program
Be a Part of Our Impact
Your contributions to these campaign pathways can drive bold new levels of growth that will shape our next 150 years.