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Articles by Seth Robertson
Report: Rush in Talks for Las Vegas Sphere Residency
One report says negotiations could produce an agreement within weeks, while rock radio host Eddie Trunk has reportedly described a 16-to-18-show run Rush could become the latest legacy rock act to take over Sphere in Las Vegas, with multiple reports pointing to discussions about a potential residency in 2027.
Heard Libraries strengthen engagement with Metro Nashville Public Schools through innovative literacy initiatives
By Ann Marie Deer Owens When the Tennessee Department of Education released the latest data on its Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program last summer, Metro Nashville Public Schools showed improvement in every testing category and at every grade level. The data, however, also revealed some achievement gaps that persist across the district’s 160 schools. Notably, only 29.6 percent of MNPS students met or exceeded expectations in English language arts proficiency.
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. and Heard Libraries establish read-and-publish agreement in support of open science, effective January 2025
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., a global media company that publishes more than 100 peer-reviewed academic journals, today announced a three-year read-and-publish agreement with Vanderbilt University’s Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries. Effective from 2025 through 2027, the open access agreement is the first of its kind that Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
10 ways faculty can benefit from the Heard Libraries
As classes and research get underway this fall, the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries are here to support Vanderbilt faculty in a variety of ways. Check out the 10 tips below to make the most of all the libraries have to offer. The libraries offer a robust discovery system for books, articles, journals, databases and other resources that can assist you in your research and teaching.
BMJ collaborates with Vanderbilt University’s Heard Libraries to support open access publishing
New read-and-publish agreement expands the opportunity for sharing and accessing cutting-edge research Leading global health care knowledge provider BMJ has signed a new read-and-publish agreement with the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries at Vanderbilt University. The agreement allows Vanderbilt-affiliated corresponding authors to publish their primary research open access without incurring article processing charges.
NERL and Springer Nature sign new three-year open publishing agreement
NERL, a consortium representing some of America’s leading research institutions, and Springer Nature, a global leader in research publishing, have agreed to a new three-year open publishing agreement. The deal provides seven NERL member institutions with read access to the entire corpus of Springer journals and permits eligible authors to publish open access, with fees covered, in hybrid journals across the Springer portfolio.
Celebrate literacy in April by taking immersive ‘Story Stroll’ on Peabody College’s campus
The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries are inviting young readers and their families to visit the campus of Peabody College of education and human development in April for the first in a series of fun, immersive storytelling experiences called “Story Strolls.” The Story Stroll initiative, which is organized by Peabody Library, Peabody College, the Susan Gray School and The Acorn School, places the pages of an illustrated children’s book on signs along a walking path, encouraging families to...
Vanderbilt University’s Heard Libraries, AIP Publishing sign three-year read-and-publish agreement that broadens access to scientific research
AIP Publishing, a leading publisher of scholarly scientific journals, has signed a three-year read-and-publish agreement with Vanderbilt University’s Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries that will promote open science and drive discovery within the university’s research community. The agreement, which is effective through 2026, provides Vanderbilt researchers access to the current publications in AIP Publishing’s industry-leading portfolio.
Elsevier and Vanderbilt University’s Heard Libraries establish landmark five-year open access transformative agreement
Elsevier, a global leader in information analytics and scientific publishing, is pleased to announce a five-year read and publish agreement with Vanderbilt University’s Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries that will advance open science and enhance access to scholarly research. The transformative agreement, which is effective through 2028, provides Vanderbilt researchers with access to high-quality research published in Elsevier’s extensive portfolio of journals.
Wiley and Vanderbilt University’s Heard Libraries sign agreement to publish more open access research
Wiley, one of the world’s largest publishers and a global leader in research and learning, today announced a new five-year open access agreement with the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries at Vanderbilt University, beginning on Jan. 1, 2024.
Digital Lab at Heard Libraries seeks faculty projects to fund in 2024; application deadline extended to April 5
The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries’ Digital Lab is in search of nascent digital projects to sponsor during the spring and summer of 2024. Vanderbilt faculty members who have projects or project ideas requiring digital technology, or who are looking to develop a proof of concept to attract larger funding opportunities, are encouraged to apply. Projects should be culturally important, globally impactful and preservable in perpetuity.
Dom Flemons Collection at Heard Libraries offers ‘treasure trove’ for scholars exploring African American influences on roots music
The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries have acquired the personal collection of Dom Flemons, a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and cultural historian whose music and research have brought greater awareness to African Americans’ extensive contributions to roots music.
New V150 portrait series now on display across the Heard Libraries
A new portrait series that celebrates noteworthy Vanderbilt University community members is now on display in multiple locations across the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries. V150: The Many Faces of Vanderbilt, which was funded by a Spring 2023 Sesquicentennial Grant, features prominent photographs and short bios of alumni, faculty and others, whose accomplishments and contributions have made a significant positive impact on the university and society as a whole.
Heard Libraries’ new hip-hop print collection engages critical issues in U.S. politics and culture
The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries are marking the 50th anniversary of hip-hop in 2023 with the acquisition of eight prints by celebrated hip-hop illustrator and documentarian André LeRoy Davis. The prints, which are now available for teaching and research, engage critical themes in U.S. culture, from immigration and policing to identity and electoral politics, underscoring the many ways that hip-hop creates meaning and catalogs history for music audiences and Black communities.
Heard Libraries to support ‘Dare to Be Me’ book events for young readers, hosting an author reading Oct. 23 and sponsoring elementary school outreach Nov. 3
The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries will welcome children’s authors Kaci Bolls and Nathan Meckel on Oct. 23 for a reading and songs from their new book Dare to Be Me (The Collective Book Studio, 2023).
Heard Libraries and Wild Bunch to co-host Dialogue Vanderbilt discussion featuring Jad Abumrad and Jacob Mchangama on Nov. 2
Vanderbilt faculty members Jad Abumrad, one of the pioneers of podcasting, and Jacob Mchangama, a leading expert on free speech, will take part in a thought-provoking discussion on Nov. 2 as part of the Dialogue Vanderbilt initiative.
New GIS Lab at Heard Libraries provides major computing boost to geospatial visualization and analysis at Vanderbilt
The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries have opened a new Geographic Information Systems Lab in Peabody Library that gives Vanderbilt University scholars a significant computing edge in the rapidly growing field of geospatial visualization and analysis.
Heard Libraries expand cultural preservation efforts with membership in international Digital Preservation Coalition
The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries have strengthened their commitment to preserving cultural heritage by joining the Digital Preservation Coalition, a prestigious U.K.-based nonprofit that works with global partners to facilitate long-term digital preservation solutions. The Heard Libraries are one of only six organizations in the U.S. that are full members, including the Library of Congress and National Archives.
Heard Libraries showcase digital preservation expertise at Cultural Heritage Preservation Summit
Since it began recording nightly news broadcasts in 1968, the Vanderbilt Television News Archive has amassed more than 62,000 hours of video content. That is the equivalent of more than seven years of uninterrupted viewing, but even if one were ambitious enough to try watching it all, the finish line would remain forever out of reach. The archive, housed within the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries, continues to grow, adding about three and a half hours of video content every day.
New Digital Lab enhances Heard Libraries’ resources for teaching and learning
The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries have strengthened their resources for teaching and learning with the recent launch of the Digital Lab, an initiative that equips Vanderbilt University faculty, students and staff to create, develop and sustain digital projects.
Political historian Eli Merritt to discuss book on American Revolution’s ‘perilous politics’ Sept. 9
Eli Merritt, research assistant professor of political science, will discuss his new book, Disunion Among Ourselves: The Perilous Politics of the American Revolution, at the Vanderbilt Bookstore from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9. Co-sponsored by the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries, the event will include a book signing following the discussion. Books will be available for purchase.
Take advantage of student resources and services at the Heard Libraries
Welcome to the fall semester! As you get settled on campus, the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries are available to help you in a variety of ways. Check out the seven tips below for accessing some of our most-recommended resources and services. Our librarians work with students in every major across campus and will gladly meet with you—either in person or virtually—to discuss how to make your research easier and more efficient.
Growth Opportunity: Volunteer co-chairs Steven Madden and Mark Mays discuss the Dare to Grow campaign
Why is now the right moment to launch a giving campaign? MM: We’re poised for success, and there’s really no better investment of charitable support. The plans are in place to put every dollar to work, whether it’s for student support, an academic program or wherever your passion lies. I focus my support on the students because the Vanderbilt experience is just incredible, but you can find a way to influence and impact whatever your particular passion may be—research or athletics support, perhaps.
Bold Strokes: An illustrated guide to pioneering figures in Vanderbilt history
Share Edited by Seth Robertson Illustrations by Chris Wormell In March 1873, Cornelius Vanderbilt and his wife, Frank Armstrong Crawford Vanderbilt, gave a charitable gift that was groundbreaking in every sense of the word. The gift, which officially founded the university that would one day bear their name, enabled Bishop Holland McTyeire to begin laying the foundations for it—literally—by the fall of that year. But the Vanderbilts’ gift was also groundbreaking in that it was visionary.
Alex Sevilla named vice provost for career advancement and engagement, Evans Family Executive Director of the Career Center
by Seth Robertson May. 24, 2021, 10:01 AM Alex Sevilla Alex Sevilla, an associate dean at the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business, has been named vice provost for career advancement and engagement at Vanderbilt University. He also will serve as the Evans Family Executive Director of the Career Center. His five-year term begins Aug. 9.
Vanderbilt bestows emeritus and emerita titles, honoring 41 retiring faculty members
by Seth Robertson May. 15, 2021, 9:00 AM Kirkland Hall (Vanderbilt University) Vanderbilt University is honoring 41 retiring faculty members for their years of service and bestowing on them the title of emeritus or emerita faculty.
John Lachs, longtime Vanderbilt philosophy professor, to retire in August
by Seth Robertson Apr. 2, 2021, 8:00 AM John Lachs, Centennial Professor of Philosophy (Vanderbilt University) Centennial Professor of Philosophy John Lachs will retire and receive emeritus status on Aug. 15, after more than 50 years of teaching at Vanderbilt University. Lachs’ thought-provoking lectures have been perennial favorites among not only students but also many alumni, who eagerly have signed up for his many appearances at Reunion and Vanderbilt Chapter events.
André Christie-Mizell named vice provost for graduate education and dean of Vanderbilt’s Graduate School
by Seth Robertson Dec. 9, 2020, 10:00 AM C. André Christie-Mizell Esteemed sociologist and child and adolescent psychologist C. André Christie-Mizell has been named vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School at Vanderbilt University, effective Jan. 1, 2021, pending Board of Trust approval.
Trailblazing alumna Dorothy Phillips discusses her career as a chemist, importance of diversity in the physical sciences
Dorothy J. Wingfield Phillips (right) and Renã A.S. Robinson, associate professor of chemistry and Dorothy J. Wingfield Phillips Chancellor Faculty Fellow, at the 2019 Vanderbilt Trailblazers reception in Kirkland Hall. (Vanderbilt University) Dorothy J.
Ethnic fears eroding democratic attitudes among Republicans, new research finds
Credit: CC0 Public Domain Ethnocentric concerns about the growing political power and social influence of immigrants, African Americans and Latinos are undermining Republicans' commitment to long-held democratic norms, according to new research by Vanderbilt University political science professor Larry Bartels. The findings, published Aug.
Nine students selected as newest cohort of Bass Military Scholars
by Seth Robertson Aug. 27, 2020, 10:30 AM Susan R. Wente, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, and Mandi Mizner, a Bass Scholar in the School of Nursing, tour a medevac exhibition on Library Lawn during Veterans Day 2019. Mizner is a former medevac helicopter pilot in the Tennessee Army National Guard. (Anne Rayner/Vanderbilt University) Vanderbilt University’s Bass Military Scholars Program welcomed its second cohort of scholars to campus this August.
Historian Jon Meacham speaks to the ‘soul of America’ during prime-time televised remarks
by Seth Robertson Aug. 22, 2020, 4:15 PM Jon Meacham (Gaspar Triangle) Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Professor of the American Presidency at Vanderbilt University, implored Americans to embrace “the best parts of our soul” and let history “be our guide” during a nationally televised speech for the Democratic National Convention on Thursday.
Turning Heads: The Vanderbilt Brain Institute has emerged as a hub of discovery as neuroscience’s influence expands
Science Photo Library The ancient Egyptians were the first to mention the brain in writing—preserved on a 2,700-year-old papyrus that details the symptoms of head injuries—but the importance of the organ escaped them. They believed it was the heart, not the head, that controlled human thought and emotion. Today our knowledge of the brain has far eclipsed what our forebears knew only a few generations ago, never mind 27 centuries.
Fellowship program established by bestselling author James Patterson to bring distinguished visiting scholars to Vanderbilt
by Seth Robertson Oct. 28, 2019, 10:59 AM Bestselling author and Vanderbilt alumnus James Patterson speaking on the Peabody College campus in 2014. (John Russell/Vanderbilt) Philanthropic support from bestselling author and Vanderbilt University alumnus James Patterson, MA’70, has established new fellowships that will bring distinguished visiting scholars to the university.
Bass Military Scholars honored, first John S. Beasley II Scholarship recipient announced at campus reception
by Seth Robertson Oct. 3, 2019, 8:00 PM The inaugural cohort of the Bass Military Scholars Program, comprising seven U.S. military veterans who are pursuing professional degrees across several of Vanderbilt University’s schools, were honored at a reception in Alumni Hall on Sept. 19. Among those in attendance were Lee and Ramona Bass, whose foundation established the program with a $25 million gift in 2018; their son and alumnus Perry R. Bass II, BA’10; and alumnus John S.
Vanderbilt welcomes first cohort of seven veterans to Bass Military Scholars Program
by Seth Robertson Aug. 28, 2019, 9:30 AM Vanderbilt University’s Bass Military Scholars Program begins its inaugural year with the arrival of seven new scholars on campus this semester. The scholars, all of whom are U.S. military veterans, are pursuing professional degrees across several of Vanderbilt’s schools.
The House That ‘Corbs’ Built: Former Vanderbilt Players Help Fund New Baseball Facilities to Honor Coach Tim Corbin
By Seth Robertson If you want to get a handle on the game of baseball, a good place to start is with the ball itself, specifically the seams that tie it all together. The 108 red stitches—used by pitchers to alter the trajectory of throws, depending on subtle changes in their grip—are the threads that have bound the game throughout its history: Baseballs are still hand-stitched in much the same way they were a century ago.
History Unshackled: Jada Benn Torres is part of a multidisciplinary effort to uncover new details about the African slave trade
By Rebecca Beyer and Seth Robertson Illustration by Laura Beth Snipes In the early 16th century, just a few years after Christopher Columbus first made landfall in the Caribbean, Spanish colonists began bringing Africans to Jamaica to serve as slaves for their expanding empire. Some escaped, running away to the mountainous interior of the island to form their own free communities.
Dalton family commits $12.75 million to support Law and Business Program at Vanderbilt Law School
by Seth Robertson Jan. 23, 2019, 8:00 AM Vanderbilt Law School (John Russell/Vanderbilt) A new $12.75 million gift to Vanderbilt Law School will provide support for its Law and Business Program, which prepares students to enter legal practice with a solid understanding of business law, corporate management, accounting and finance.
Alumni couple gives $5M to support student scholars, faculty leaders at Vanderbilt University
Gift propels Opportunity Vanderbilt initiative during its 10th year (Vanderbilt University) Undergraduate financial aid and support for faculty research and teaching opportunities are the focus of a new $5 million gift to Vanderbilt University.
Vanderbilt University invests $25M and issues Faculty Fellowship Challenge to establish faculty fellowships, directorships
Vanderbilt University is inviting its alumni and donors to play a key role in expanding support for faculty throughout their careers with the launch of the Faculty Fellowship Challenge. Backed by an institutional investment of $25 million, the challenge is designed to create fellowships and directorships that will spark new research discoveries and expand teaching opportunities. “Our faculty, at all points in their careers, are essential to the success of our university.
From ‘Vanderbilt Magazine’: Deep Healing
Two Vanderbilt alumni are making waves in drug discovery by plumbing the oceans’ depths for new therapeutic molecules.
Deep Healing: Two alumni are making waves in drug discovery by plumbing the oceans’ depths for new therapeutic molecules
The diagnosis could’ve been devastating, had Eduardo Esquenazi let it be. He was just 28, leading an otherwise healthy and active life, when he learned that he had advanced testicular cancer. Surgery and two regimens of chemotherapy followed, but the discomfort, tedium and uncertainty of those months didn’t discourage him. If anything, they provided him some much-needed clarity. “When I first got the diagnosis, there was a sense of relief. At least I knew what I was up against.
New faculty chair in Vanderbilt’s Basic Sciences created in memory of biochemist Richard Armstrong
A $1 million gift to Vanderbilt University has established a new faculty chair named in honor of the late biochemist Richard Armstrong, whose groundbreaking work formed a basis for understanding the enzymatic function of antibiotic resistance. The Richard N. Armstrong, Ph.D. Chair for Innovation in Biochemistry, which will support a faculty researcher in the Department of Biochemistry within the School of Medicine’s Basic Sciences, was endowed by Armstrong’s family.
New scholarship honors legacy of civil rights leader James Lawson
The Rev. James Lawson, one of the civil rights movement’s most influential leaders and an important figure in Vanderbilt University’s history, is the inspiration for a new undergraduate scholarship at the university. The Rev. James M. Lawson Jr. Scholarship provides need-based financial support for underrepresented minority students who demonstrate a commitment to civil rights and social justice.
Venture capitalist Bruce Evans shares entrepreneurial fundraising advice at Engineering’s Chambers Lecture
Every startup company begins with an idea, but as a group of aspiring entrepreneurs at Vanderbilt University’s School of Engineering learned Feb. 26, it is the funding behind the idea that ultimately determines success. As part of the Spring 2018 Chambers Family Entrepreneurial Lecture, alumnus Bruce R.
New faculty: Kejia Hu, assistant professor of operations management
The rise of big data—the collection and analysis of massive, complex sets of information by organizations—is transforming our daily lives in countless ways, from how we shop and interact online to how we access basic necessities, like health care. The phenomenon of big data knows no bounds, and it only stands to get bigger.
$2 million investment establishes Turner Family Community Enterprise Clinic at Vanderbilt Law School
A $2 million investment in Vanderbilt Law School by Cal Turner Jr., BA’62, will provide legal support to entrepreneurs on shoestring budgets to help them get up and running. The funding, which results from the growth of a previous endowed gift from Turner, names the Turner Family Community Enterprise Clinic at the law school.
VUToday: Hate speech and the First Amendment in weekly roundup of VU news stories
University News and Communications publishes VUToday, a compilation of Vanderbilt mentions in the media, each weekday. Read a selection of Vanderbilt news stories for the week of Aug. 14. Vox: Some racist, homophobic chants in Charlottesville may not be protected under 1st Amendment There is no question that Americans have the right to express racist, offensive, unpopular views under the First Amendment—it’s a right that has been repeatedly upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.
VUToday: Genetically engineered humans in weekly roundup of VU news stories
University News and Communications publishes VUToday, a compilation of Vanderbilt mentions in the media, each weekday. Read a selection of Vanderbilt news stories for the week of Aug. 7. CNBC: Genetically engineered humans will arrive sooner than you think. And we’re not ready. Bioengineering has already allowed human beings to take control of their own evolution. In fact, just last week scientists made a major breakthrough in gene editing technology.
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