Student Experience

Men looking over a table of written materials

Immersion

Immersion is an opportunity for undergraduate students to pursue their passions and interests through experiential learning. Media, politics, law, business, medicine, technology, gender, sexuality, race, and more—communication intersects with many areas of inquiry that can make for exciting Immersion experiences.

Students interested in communication should think broadly about the many Immersion experiences that can connect with communication studies. For example, a student interested in civic engagement could work with a local nonprofit organization that serves disadvantaged communities, followed by a presentation about this experience. Or, a student interested in digital storytelling could create a documentary video and offer a public screening.

The opportunities are endless. Below are but a few options of how students can complete their Immersion experience in communication studies. This list is meant only to spark creativity; you are encouraged to develop your own unique Immersion project based on your interests and passions.

Immersion Opportunities

Civic Engagement and Advocacy

Politics, public engagement, and community organizing are fundamentally communicative endeavors. The Department of Communication Studies offers a wide range of courses to students who want to fulfill their Immersion requirement by engaging fellow citizens on issues that affect us all.

You could combine different CMST courses with volunteering on a political campaign, working with a local nonprofit, interning in the public defender’s office, or leading a Vanderbilt student organization devoted to advocacy and engagement.

Public Speaking and Oratory

Even with the tools of digital communication at our fingertips, the art of oratory remains as important as ever. In addition to taking CMST courses related to the art of oratory, you can complete an Immersion project by participating in public speaking events around campus. Opportunities include the Franklin K. Houston Public Speaking Contest, the Vanderbilt Chapter of Toastmasters International, and TEDx Vanderbilt, which allows students with a passion for public speaking and big ideas to influence their fellow Vanderbilt students.

Study Abroad

Study abroad is a great way for students to create a novel, exciting Immersion experience. If you study abroad and are interested in communication, you can enroll in courses related to the media, language, and culture of your host country. You can also take a course on intercultural communication, which provides a revealing perspective on the problems and possibilities of communicating across cultural divides.

Completing an Immersion project on top of studying abroad allows you to pair the study of communication with the international pathway of the Immersion requirement.

Many study abroad programs offer courses such as intercultural communication, media around the globe, rhetoric in the ancient world, and more. Receiving credit for one of these courses is fairly straightforward and will likely transfer as an elective into your CMST major.

All CMST majors thinking about studying abroad should make an appointment with Isaac West, Director of Undergraduate Studies, to receive pre-approval for study abroad courses. This meeting should happen BEFORE the semester in which a student hopes to study abroad.

Students should also make an appointment with Vanderbilt’s Study Abroad Office.

Debate

Participation in debate has long been an immersive activity, with debaters becoming skilled in constructing arguments, researching evidence to support those arguments, and organizing those arguments into persuasive positions.

Debate offers several possible Immersion opportunities. Students interested in pursuing debate as their Immersion experience should contact Vanderbilt debate faculty members.

Interdisciplinary Immersion

Law, politics, medicine, health, media, social movements, business, history—communication studies teaches courses related to all of these areas, but so do other departments on campus.

With Immersion Vanderbilt, students are not only able but are encouraged to experiment with interdisciplinary Immersion experiences.

If you’d like to discuss the interdisciplinary potential of Immersion, contact Paul Stob, professor of communication studies.

Immersion Contact

Above are just some of the options for linking your Immersion experience with the study of communication. If you’d like to learn more, contact Department Chair Jeffrey Bennett, Director of Undergraduate Studies Isaac West, or any CMST faculty member.

Internships

Communication studies students have completed internships in a variety of areas—political campaigning, media consulting, broadcast journalism, advertising, public relations, radio and television programming, and film production. Contact Courtney Travers, Director of Internships for the Department of Communication Studies.

Internship Opportunities

Media, Film, and Digital Technology

If you’re interested in journalism, film and television production, social media, and similar areas, the Department of Communication Studies can offer valuable resources.

One option is to participate in the Vandy-in-Hollywood summer internship program. If you’re interested in a career in the entertainment industry, or even if you just want to spend a summer in Hollywood, this is an excellent opportunity. What’s more, participation in Vandy-in-Hollywood can be combined with communication studies courses related to film, television, and media production to constitute an Immersion experience.

In addition to participating in an external internship, students interested in media can participate in any number of Vanderbilt-sponsored programs. Vanderbilt Student Communications, which is responsible for the student-run The Vanderbilt Hustler and much more, offers students a range of hands-on experiences related to production and content creation.

Interdisciplinary Internships

The communication studies department sponsors one-credit-hour interdisciplinary internships (INDS 3880 and INDS 3884), which are repeatable for a maximum of three credit hours. Credit earned will not count toward major/minor requirements but will count as part of your total credit hours earned toward graduation. Any student who is at least a sophomore and in good academic standing may participate.

Students obtain their own placement but will have a communications studies faculty adviser who works with them to develop a list of readings or research agenda for the internship. Students should email Courtney Travers, director of internships. Please note that only students who have declared a major or minor in CMST will be advised. Read more about interdisciplinary internships.

Summer Internships Subsidies

Vanderbilt provides a subsidy to waive the cost associated with the academic credit required for internships. See the Career Center for more information and eligibility.

Lambda Pi Eta

Lambda Pi Eta crest

Lambda Pi Eta is the official honor society of the National Communication Association and an accredited member of the Association of College Honor Societies. The Delta Psi Chapter of Lambda PiEta at Vanderbilt University was founded in 1996.

The purposes of Lambda Pi Eta are to:

Recognize, foster, and reward outstanding scholastic achievement;
Stimulate interest in the field of communication;
Provide an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas in the field of communication;
Promote and encourage professional development among communication majors;
Establish and maintain close relationships and mutual understanding between faculty and students; and
Explore options for further graduate education.

To be eligible for membership, students must:

Have completed 60 semester credit-hours and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
Have completed 12 semester credit-hours in communication courses and have a grade point average of at least 3.25 in those courses.
Be currently enrolled as a full-time student in good standing.

To learn more about Lambda Pi Eta, contact Dustin Wood.

Awards

Franklin K. Houston Speaking Contest

Among the many gifts to Vanderbilt University from the late Franklin K. Houston, life trustee, was an endowed fund to provide prizes for public speaking.

Mr. Houston grew up in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and took public speaking while he was a student at Vanderbilt. When he became CEO of the Corn Merchants Bank in New York City, he established this competition to encourage competent public speaking, as he believed that his experience at Vanderbilt had made a very real difference in his own life.

The Houston speech competition is held every semester.

Recent Winners

2025: Olga Konstantara, Jonah Barbin, Savannah Harris

2024: Olivia Gordon, Shayda Niksefat, Karalyn Smith-Ross

2023: Madelina Huffman, Cory Wurtenberger

2022: Andres Hernandez, Blair McDonald, Payton Frankiewicz

Past Winners

Fall 2021:
Matty Templeton
Alisha Saluja
Jana Li
Fall 2019:
Veronica Smith
Cecilia Williams
Tommy Oswalt
Spring 2019:
Max Raphael
Cassidy Kortze
Devon Shewell
Fall 2018:
Yolanda Ye
Douglas Finnegan
Tim Rice
Spring 2018:
Mary Catherine Cook
Lin Reish
Samantha McCormick
Fall 2017:
Veronica Smith
Sasha Pines
Zachary Buchta
Spring 2017:
Claire Barnett
Matthew Austin
Max Schneider
Fall 2016:
Jonathon Segal
Eve Moll
Miguel Moravec
Spring 2015:
Rebecca Chandler
Apurva Kunte
Jordan Klein
Fall 2014:
Darby Hobbs
Alex Swanson
Hana Crandall
Spring 2014:
Rebecca Lauer
Peter Lin
James Cribbs
Fall 2013:
Jesse Golomb
Jonathan Meneses
Monica Peacock
Spring 2013:
Michael Olson
Jeremy Bolin
Michael Zoorob
Fall 2012:
Marc Rosen
Samuel Adkisson
Elliot Scher
Spring 2012:
Arjun Pillai
Errol Norman
Wade Longmire
Fall 2011:
Hannah Sills
Zachary Goldman
Michelle Weinman
Ben Hareza
Spring 2011:
Allison Deissler
Leigh Ware
John Rice
Fall 2010:
Shana Lowenthal
Jenny Gildner
Greg McMillin
Spring 2010:
Matt Moore
Brittney Johnson
Cheng Yu
Fall 2009:
Nicholas Brown
Brian Donelan
Lindsey Elkin
Spring 2009:
Catherine Wearn
Brant Bonetti
Marshall Kerns
Fall 2008:
Brad Lawrence
Lauren Kinzer
Tyler Sanchez
Spring 2008:
Benjamin Popper
Lindsay Wuller
Ashley Williamson
Fall 2007:
Matthew Orton
Andrew Schlanger
Dafna Bareket
Spring 2007:
Glenn Thomas Rideou
Kathryn Levene
Devin Lyon
Mary Hollis
Fall 2006:
Roy Stone
Martha Legg
Laura Raba
Spring 2006:
Sarah Sharp
Carlie Gotlieb
Samantha Martin
Fall 2005:
Edward O’Neal
Mallory McGill
Abigail Collier
Spring 2005:
Rob Weller
Matthew White
Danielle DiBenedetto
Fall 2004:
Abigail Martin
Aden Johnson
Joseph Zakierski
Spring 2004:
Drake McCrary
Katherine Lannom
Marvin Figueroa
Elizabeth Davis
Fall 2003:
Jamie D. Frazier
Michael Wilt
Megan Daniel
Spring 2003:
Brooks Ching
Erin Steinbruchel
Jonathan Ida
Jon Scruggs
Fall 2002:
Skylar King
Tyler Simpson
Auston Heim
Erin Guy
Spring 2002:
Conrad G. Lucas II
Sam Jones
Kendal Van Wagner
Bruce Hawkins
Fall 2001:
Kimberly Erin Olvey
Katie Betzwieser
Matthew Syzmanski
Stephanie Trautwen
Spring 2001:
Katy Clabo
Heather Souder
Jonathan O’Toole
Fall 2000:
Stephanie Kate Sweeten
Katherine Garrety
Julia Ellis
Spring 2000:
Kao-Ping Chua
Stephanie Keiber
Maggie Arvelund
Fall 1999:
Phil Zimmerman
Leslie Kennerly
Rebecca Templeton
Spring 1999:
Amy Dassler
Stephanie Patterson
Megan Guernsey
Fall 1998:
Bryan Kelly
Shawna Rasul
Nathaniel Morrow
Spring 1998:
Zachary Jackson
Georgia Cole
David Koloski
Fall 1997:
Marcia Larson
Robert Wehmeyer
Daniel Shay
Spring 1997:
Jennifer Young
Carolyn Stewart
Todd Richardson
Fall 1996:
Whitney Barker
Steven Decaluwe
Christopher Sadowski
Spring 1996:
Kale Ness
Tysha Stephens
Jennie Lukens
Fall 1995:
Ilona Kewychyj
Michael Bruno
Ingrid Schuster
Spring 1995:
John Esterhay
Amanda Albright
Elissa A. Rivas
Fall 1994:
Connie Flood
Erika Grote
Greer Redden
Spring 1994:
Michele Creech
Melinda Lewis
Steve Barnes
Fall 1993:
Catherine Feretti
Traci Dunn
Spring 1993:
Laura Manning
Anna Glass
Jennifer Mantey
Fall 1992:
John Vaughty
Paige Sudderth
Sean Roach
Spring 1992:
Emily Alson Skone
Adema Gee
Erica Davis
Susan Hayes
Fall 1991:
Mary Antony
Jordan Bette
Jay Ballard
Spring 1991:
Kimberly Royer
Holly Tomchey
Harry Baudry
Fall 1990:
James Davies
Joseph Gilbert
Douglas Jones
Caitlin Noe
Spring 1990:
Lori Bean
Nina Shetty
Kim McCreery
Fall 1989:
Jennifer Horn
Sam Feist
Charles Brickley
Spring 1989:
Deborah Ann Maynard
Kim Held
Beth McCarthy
Fall 1988:
Todd Hennings
Andrea Kirsten Albert
Steven Patterson
Spring 1988:
Samuel Lloyd Shelby
Ashley Cassandra Paul
Keven T. Kroner
Fall 1987:
Heather Lynne Malogrides
Caleb Paul Stevenson Finegan
Joy Ruth St. Clair
Spring 1987:
Julia Mitchell
Barry Goheen
Kimberly Weller
Fall 1986:
Thomas Coleman Strawn III
Eleanor Harper Copeland
Dena Lynn Laurent
Fall 1985:
Tammy Lyn Veazey
Joseph Stearns Ellis
John Galen Giddings
Spring 1985:
Katherine Peterson
Kathryn Lazenby
Kirk Manz
Fall 1984:
Patrick Bryant
Brian Lemaster
Lawrence Taube
1984 Spring:
Nancy Johnston
Nicholas Hansen
Michael Jabaley Jr.
1973:
Kenneth Sisk
Mark Houck
Anne Jeffery
1972:
James Dowden
Charles Danner
John Logan
1971:
Douglas Sandage
Zachary Holmes
Doris Daughtery
1969:
Elizebeth Urban
Darryl Berger
1968:
Douglas Bates
Richard Knapp
1967:
Thomas Graves
Lee McKnight
1966:
Charles Ivie
Thomas Graves
1965:
William Kelly
Charles Ivie
1964:
John Brinsfield Jr.
William Richardson
1963:
Lionel Barret Jr.
Frank Woods
1962:
Nancy Krider
Grady Wade
1961:
Latham Sturdivant Jr.
Osborne Green Jr.
1960:
Michael Krawcheck
Frank Boehm
1959:
Joe Roby
James Patrick
1958:
Joe Sills Jr.
Cynrhia Hastings
1957:
Chester Burns
Paul Michael
1956:
Carl Stem
Robert Gooldman
1955:
Johnie Bozeman
Gloria Polk
1954:
John Ferguson
John Marshall
1953:
Carp McQueen
William Baker
Albert Pennybacker Jr.
1952:
Henry Diamond
Robert Harlin
Albert Pennybacker Jr.
1951:
Hansel Harrison Jr.
Frances Farris
Henry Diamond
1950:
Smith Jones
James Harland Jr.
1949:
George Cate Jr.
1948:
James Kirby Jr.
1947:
Hardy Clark
1942:
Walter Snell
1941:
Wayne Dehoney
1940:
Frank Clement
1939:
Robert Landis
1938:
Edward Harris
1937:
Frank Farris Jr
1936:
Edward Steele
1935:
Hugh Helm
1934:
Henry Hart Jr.
1933:
Herbert McConnell
1932:
Wendell Ensor
1931:
George Dominick
1930:
Charles Hudson Jr.
1929:
D. Rusby Seabaugh
1928:
Joe Williams Jr.
1927:
David Caldwell
1926:
Marion Tillman
1925:
John Norman
1924:
Nolan Carter
1923:
Leo Bearman
1922:
Alfred Taylor
1921:
Walton Whitwell

Founders Medal for Oratory

Since 1877, a gold medal has been awarded annually to the top graduating student from each school in honor of founder Cornelius Vanderbilt, who endowed the awards. In addition, Cornelius Vanderbilt established the Founder’s Medal for Oratory, which was first awarded in 1876, before our other Founder’s Medals.

The tradition of Founder’s Medals lives on today with a medal still given for “oratory,” as well as for top honors in Vanderbilt’s 10 schools and colleges.