Faculty News

Norman Henry Tolk, professor emeritus of physics and scientific entrepreneur who fostered interdisciplinary collaboration while elevating physics research at Vanderbilt, died on June 19, 2026. Tolk was 88 years old and lived in Brentwood, Tenn. He was born on Jan. 9, 1938, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and grew up with… Read More

Local middle school and high school students have the opportunity to learn math in a creative and engaging way from leading Vanderbilt faculty through the Nashville Math Circle. Students learn creative math problem-solving skills in a friendly, fun environment from Department of Mathematics faculty, free of cost. Participants will explore… Read More

  This fall, 35 new scholars will join the College of Arts and Science faculty, further advancing the impact of our research, discovery, and artistic expression. These renowned researchers, teachers, scholars, and artists span 19 departments and programs and join nearly 800 faculty colleagues in the college. We are… Read More

By Ann Marie Deer Owens The Program in Climate and Environmental Studies has launched several key initiatives this fall, including a new curriculum infused with interdisciplinary and experiential learning, to better equip students for the ongoing work to reverse climate change and environmental degradation. The program’s priorities include increased opportunities… Read More

By Ann Marie Deer Owens Creating a shared academic experience for students. Equipping students with the fundamental capacities to succeed in today’s world. Strengthening faculty collaboration across disciplines. These are among the many goals that the A&S College Core, the College of Arts and Science’s general education curriculum, accomplished in… Read More

Dr. Charles Allen Brau, a distinguished physicist, educator, and researcher, passed away on June 7, 2026, surrounded by family. He devoted his life to family, education, and expanding the frontiers of physics and its application. Brau was born November 4, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York, to Ellen Naekel Brau and… Read More

On a summer day in Nashville, one person escapes the heat in an air-conditioned office while another delivers packages in a metal truck that absorbs heat or labors outdoors for hours under the sun. Both people experience the same weather, but according to new research from Assistant Professor of Cinema… Read More

Adapted from a press release written by Arizona State University The experiences we face early in life may leave lasting marks on our health that echo across decades—even throughout the body. Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Scholar in Biological Sciences Rachel Petersen A new study published in Science (DOI), “Age… Read More