Profiles
Janet Jernigan, BA’66: From activism to advocacy–a lifetime of caring
Aug. 16, 2019—A&S alumna and former head of Nashville nonprofit FiftyForward looks back on 50 years of work in the community Janet Jernigan has never seen herself as exceptional. As an undergraduate English major at Vanderbilt in the mid-1960’s, she saw herself as simply a reflection of all the other young women on campus. “I guess...
Puxin Xuanyuan: Chemistry major says creativity is key
Jul. 22, 2019—Chemistry major Puxin Xuanyuan says creativity is key to her passion for scientific discovery. She put her creativity to good use this summer while splitting time between an immersion experience at a medical biotech startup in Toronto and conducting cancer-fighting research on the Vanderbilt campus. “Scientific inquiry, scientific discovery and research are some of the...
Wellness Influencer and Entrepreneur: Sloane Chmara, BA’19
Apr. 11, 2019—What does it take to run a growing health brand with a positively focused social media presence while excelling at academics and maintaining a social life? For Los Angeles native Sloane Chmara, it’s all about wellness.
Flying on to Medical School: Riley Ferguson, BA’19
Apr. 11, 2019—A Facebook query seeking Vanderbilt students who were pilots led Riley Ferguson to two of her closest friends and the founding of AviaDORES, a campus organization with the mission of making aviation accessible to VU students.
A Scientific Mind and a Heart for Women’s Issues: Ananya Sharma, BA’19
Apr. 11, 2019—As the only child of a university biology professor, Ananya Sharma’s talent in science came naturally. Yet, while navigating a STEM-specialized curriculum in high school, she discovered an interest in women’s studies.
Runner’s High: Evan Suzman, BS’19
Apr. 11, 2019—Evan Suzman, a cross country runner for the Commodores, likes to clear his mind with long, winding runs across campus. Off the course, the native New Yorker is a double major in history and child development, with a focus on the history of science. Read more
From South Africa With Love
Apr. 9, 2019—Bill-Kande Badi never imagined he’d pursue a career in film when he traveled more than 8,500 miles from his hometown of Pretoria, South Africa, to study at Vanderbilt. But then he signed up for Cinema and Media Arts courses and “fell in love with making movies.”
Jonathan Metzl examines how hot-button political issues impact health
Mar. 11, 2019—Professor Jonathan Metzl isn’t afraid to tackle society’s most controversial issues, like guns, mass shootings, health care, race, politics and mental illness.
Find Your Impact: Student creates app for orangutans
Feb. 22, 2019—A coding hobby led Vanderbilt HOD and economics double major Ben Scheer on a wild immersion, building an app for orangutans at Zoo Atlanta.
Andrew Grant: Pushing boundaries to impact the Earth, and people in it
Jan. 30, 2019—What is more daring—camping in a remote part of Antarctica for a month doing field research, or directing and performing in a musical revue about the environment? For Earth and Environmental Sciences major Andrew Grant, pushing boundaries to positively impact the Earth, and the people who call it home, are equally thrilling.