Kathryn Royster

In 2007, Vanderbilt’s College of Arts and Science launched an innovative new major called Medicine, Health, and Society (MHS). From attracting just 40 enrollees in its first year, the interdisciplinary program has grown rapidly into one of A&S’s most popular majors. More than 700 undergraduate students are… Read More

For students in the Department of Cinema and Media Arts (CMA), senior year involves an important rite of passage: the capstone seminar. Required for every CMA major, the seminar brings together the department’s unique blend of theory and practice. While most film departments around the country focus… Read More

The Department of Physics and Astronomy hosted former Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen at an April 8 colloquium attended by students, faculty, and other members of the Vanderbilt community. In a lecture followed by a question-and-answer session with attendees, Bredesen shared the value of scientific frameworks for problem-solving… Read More

Women’s History Month is both an opportunity and an invitation: an opportunity to learn more about an often-hidden side of history and culture, and an invitation to develop a new awareness, concerns, and habits of learning that can carry through the rest of the year. As part of the College… Read More

On March 24, the College of Arts and Science recognized 19 outstanding faculty members and graduate students for excellence in teaching and advising. These awards are an important part of the Arts and Science tradition, and past recipients include some of the most distinguished and beloved professors and instructors in… Read More

Holly McCammon, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Sociology The history of women’s rights in the United States is inextricable from the history of social movements. In the nineteenth century, married women fought for legal personhood and the right to own property independent of their husbands. In the early… Read More

Allison Schachter, Chair of Jewish Studies and Associate Professor of Jewish Studies, English, and Russian and East European Studies (Vanderbilt University) Allison Schachter, an associate professor of Jewish studies, English, and Russian and East European studies,… Read More

Tiffany R. Patterson, Associate Professor of African American and Diaspora Studies From a young age, Associate Professor of African American and Diaspora Studies Tiffany Ruby Patterson loved to learn. She read voraciously throughout her childhood: a set of World Book encyclopedias purchased by her uncle, an entire… Read More

Associate Professor of Chemistry Renã Robinson For Associate Professor of Chemistry Renã Robinson, science has long been about helping people. She was an avid scientist-in-training throughout her childhood and went to college intending to become a cardiac surgeon. But when she got close to the end of… Read More

One year ago, Sahil “Sael” Soni ’21, a chemistry and economics double major, had just returned from a blue-ribbon performance in Vanderbilt Debate’s first-ever international competition. He was looking forward to finishing the 2019-2020 season on a high note, as were his teammates. For… Read More

Samar S. Ali, JD’06, BS’03, has joined the faculties of the Department of Political Science and Law School as a research professor focusing on international law and conflict resolution. Samar S. Ali, JD’06, BS’03, has joined the Vanderbilt faculty as a research professor in political science and… Read More

Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Biological Sciences Antonis Rokas in his lab. (John Russell/Vanderbilt University) Antonis Rokas, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Biological Sciences, has been elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The lifetime honor, first awarded… Read More

Department of Philosophy visiting scholar Emanuele Costa According to Department of Philosophy visiting scholar Emanuele Costa, people often see modern philosophy as ancient history. But the discipline, which covers the 1500s-1800s, is highly relevant to both today’s scholars and the public at large. “Modern European and… Read More

Katherine Friedman, associate professor and vice chair of biological sciences (Steve Green/Vanderbilt University) When Vanderbilt ramped down research activities early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Friedman Lab was better-positioned than many. Led by Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Biological Sciences Katherine… Read More

William Schmid Growing up, William Schmid excelled at math and science. He assumed that meant he was destined for a career in engineering: after all, his father was an engineer, and most of the people in his immediate family had studied the subject in college. “It seemed like the obvious… Read More

At a virtual staff meeting on October 16, the College of Arts and Science named the winners of the school’s annual 2020 Staff Excellence Awards. These awards recognize staff who have provided outstanding service to faculty and students or who have significantly advanced the mission of the college in other… Read More

Joshua D. Clinton, Abby and Jon Winkelried Chair and Professor of Political Science (John Russell/Vanderbilt University) On election night, tens of millions of Americans will turn on their televisions, log onto the internet, or pick up their smartphones for a unified purpose: learning the identity of the next President of… Read More

Though the COVID-19 pandemic scuttled many students’ original summer 2020 plans, College of Arts and Science students adapted quickly. Through technology, creativity, and determination, they found ways to expand their horizons and continue preparing for life after Vanderbilt. Students Rashmi Bharadwaj and Joe Miller both want to make an impact… Read More

Though the COVID-19 pandemic scuttled many students’ original summer 2020 plans, College of Arts and Science students adapted quickly. Through technology, creativity, and determination, they found ways to expand their horizons and continue preparing for life after Vanderbilt. Students Emery Little, Lucas Ludgate, Brooke Ellis, and Jaime Perez all used… Read More

Though the COVID-19 pandemic scuttled many students’ original summer plans, College of Arts and Science students adapted quickly. Through technology, creativity, and determination, they found ways to expand their horizons and continue preparing for life after Vanderbilt. Juniors Navya Thakkar, Skylar Cuevas, and Natalie Elliott all used their summers to… Read More