Profiles
History’s detective: Jane Landers and her team rescue enslaved Africans’ stories from oblivion
Apr. 16, 2025—See how historian Jane Landers and her team are rescuing enslaved Africans’ stories from oblivion and honoring thousands of lives.
A lot of nerve: One undergraduate’s path to treating brain cancer
Mar. 27, 2025—It all started during his senior year of high school, when Shanay Desai watched the world go digital due to the pandemic. During that time, Desai mentored lowerclassmen from other high schools through a virtual STEM outreach program. It was then that his interest in neuroscience was sparked. “We would teach them a little bit...
Staff Q&A: Peggy Lucas-McGowan celebrates 50 years in A&S
Jan. 15, 2025—Peggy Lucas-McGowan is celebrating her 50th anniversary at the College of Arts and Science, all of which has been devoted to the Department of Physics and Astronomy. She has witnessed enormous changes since her start in 1974—from the advent of the computer to increased female representation in the sciences. Read about her transformative career and...
Bringing community to a seemingly solitary endeavor
Oct. 30, 2024—The image of a writer often conjures up visions of an author sequestered away crafting the perfect poem or buried under stacks of paper finishing their next novel. However, award-winning poet and Gertrude Conaway Professor of English Major Jackson believes it is a deeply collaborative process that relies heavily on community. “I think the conception...
New faculty Q&A: Discovering black holes in dwarf galaxies with Mallory Molina
Sep. 18, 2024—Meet new Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Mallory Molina and learn about their research on black holes, their teaching style, and why they are excited to join the College of Arts and Science this fall. Q: What is your area of research? A: I’ve always been interested in black holes, and when I was...
New faculty Q&A: Talia Fernós discusses what mathematics teaches us about life
Sep. 12, 2024—Meet new Visiting Professor of Mathematics Talia Fernós and learn about her research on group theory, her teaching style, and what excites her most about teaching students. Q: What is your area of research? A: My research is, broadly speaking, in math, and specifically in group theory, which is a technical term referring to the...
New faculty Q&A: How media organize the world around us with Sasha Crawford-Holland
Sep. 5, 2024—Meet new Assistant Professor of Cinema and Media Arts Sasha Crawford-Holland and learn about his research on media and the environment, what excites him about teaching, and what he is looking forward to in joining the College of Arts and Science this fall. Q: What is your area of research and teaching? A: Increasingly, people...
CLASS OF 2024: Vanderbilt helped Haley Bishop find her voice and rediscover her passion for running
Apr. 8, 2024—WATCH: See how student-athlete Haley Bishop is using her gift of communication and connection to help others.
Doan Phuong Nguyen, BA’07: Devoted to Young Readers
Mar. 20, 2024—Doan Phuong Nguyen, BA'07, was in the first grade when she decided her dream was to be an author. The dream came to fruition in 2023 with the publication of her first novel for middle grade readers, 'Mèo and Bé' (Lee and Low Books, 2023; illustrated by...
Class of 2024: Jack Bulger’s life journey shapes him as a player and person
Mar. 14, 2024—WATCH: VandyBoys catcher Jack Bulger talks about the teacher who inspired him most and how he built his own brace with what he learned at the School of Engineering.