‘Humanities’
Professor uses centuries-old martial arts form to educate students about Brazilian democracy
Sep. 15, 2020—On a hot, muggy August evening, a group of masked students followed Gilman Whiting, associate professor of African American and Diaspora Studies, onto the lawn in front of Wilson Hall. There, they took up socially distanced positions and began working their way through a series of exercises designed to encourage rhythm, flexibility, balance, and cooperation....
History of Art and Architecture launches new major in architecture and the built environment
Sep. 3, 2020—For a number of years, the College of Arts and Science has offered courses in architecture, along with a pre-architecture advising program for students planning to pursue graduate study in the field. But the college didn’t have an actual degree in the subject—until now. Beginning with the 2020 fall semester, the History of Art and...
Jana Harper: Creating performance art during COVID-19
Jun. 9, 2020—THE WORK “What are the burdens we carry?” For three years, Associate Professor of the Practice of Art Jana Harper has been exploring and answering that question through her project This Holding. “That question multiplied into other questions,” Harper said. “What might those burdens look like? What do they look like for us as individuals?...
College of Arts and Science Faculty Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Jun. 2, 2020—Two members of the College of Arts and Science faculty—Distinguished University Professor Houston A. Baker and University Distinguished Professor George Hornberger—have been elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences (AAAS). Founded in 1780 by John Adams and John Hancock, among others, the AAAS has previously elected luminaries and leaders such as Benjamin Franklin,...
Serving Through Health Care: Founder’s Medalist Sumanth Chennareddy BA’20
May. 21, 2020—Sumanth Chennareddy BA’20, a neuroscience major and Spanish minor, is this year’s Founder’s Medalist for the College of Arts and Science. The Founder’s Medal is a 143-year-old tradition that recognizes the top graduating student from each of Vanderbilt’s 10 schools and colleges. The recipient of the Martin F. McNamara, Jr. Honor Scholarship, Chennareddy served as...
Conversations to Empower and Build Community: Tommy Oswalt, BA’20
May. 20, 2020—Psychology and communications studies double-major Tommy Oswalt came to Vanderbilt as a first-generation college student with a dream of finding a creative and supportive community like the large Cuban family he left in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. As head resident adviser of West House on The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons, vice president of VUcept, and volunteer at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at...
Art Professor Vesna Pavlović Wins Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship
May. 19, 2020—Associate Professor of Art Vesna Pavlović has been awarded a Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship to conduct research at the Archives of American Art (AAA) in summer 2021. The program provides support for outstanding visual artists from around the world, with the aim of inspiring new works of art. Fellows spend one to two months in...
Communication Studies Professor Organizes Pandemic Help for Healthcare Workers
May. 4, 2020—Claire Sisco King will be the first to say that she isn’t an activist. But, looking at her pursuits over the past six weeks, you might have a hard time envisioning her as anything but. From working with physicians to create a petition for stay-at-home orders in Tennessee to her current campaign to provide resources...
Poetry Exhibit, Town Hall Promote Interdisciplinary Collaboration Between Sciences and Humanities
Feb. 24, 2020—On February 3, an unusual sight greeted visitors to Buttrick Hall. Tall, brightly colored banners lined the Buttrick lobby. Each banner bore a large graphic and a poem. As students, faculty, and staff made their way past the banners, they noticed something unusual: every poem in the collection was about science. The banners were part...
Humanities 20/20 Conference Generates Vision for Future of Humanities at Vanderbilt
Oct. 18, 2019—What is the future of the humanities at Vanderbilt? That question was top of mind for Holly Tucker, Mellon Foundation Chair in the Humanities and Professor of French, as she planned this year’s Humanities 20/20 mini-conference. Hosted by the Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities, which Tucker directs, the event brought together 80 faculty...