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Please stand by. (Music) (Music). » Also stand to honor your faculty as they process into the ceremony. And remain standing for the procession of the platform party. (Music) (Applause) (Music) » ALISSA HARE: Welcome, and please be seated. (Applause) I am Alissa Hare, Assistant Dean in the College of Arts & Sciences and Chair of the Faculty Senate. At this ceremony, distinguished faculty and alumni will be recognized, the chancellor will make his address, and degrees will be conferred at the end of the ceremony. Diplomas will be mailed to graduates' homes. All undergraduates receiving degrees from the College of Arts and Science, Blair School of Music, The School of Engineering, and Peabody College, as well as the Next Steps students will walk across the stage here at GEODIS Park. As the graduate and professional students are honored in their separate ceremonies across campus. It is now my honor to introduce Vanderbilt University Chancellor Daniel Diermeier. (Applause) » Students of the class of 2025, family and friends, welcome. Today we celebrate the achievements of Vanderbilt's graduates, their hopes, their dreams, and the immeasurable impact they will have on the world.
In keeping with the Vanderbilt tradition of celebrating our faculty, we will now pay tribute to their deep and abiding commitment to the university. I invite Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, C. Cybele Raver, to recognize our distinguished faculty on stage and present the retiring members of the faculty whom we recognize with the title of "Emerita" or "Emeritus," followed by the recognition of graduating students who are our 2025 Founder's Medalists. (Applause) » CYBELE RAVER: Thank you, Chancellor Diermeier. It is an honor to recognize so many of our distinguished faculty, beginning with this year's award winners for excellence in teaching and mentoring. These awards are determined by student nominations. Kevin Galloway, associate professor of mechanical engineering and winner of the Excellence in Immersion Mentoring Award. Professor Galloway has served on the faculty for more than eight years and is known for his generous hands-on support of student immersion experiences, from research projects to entrepreneurial ventures. One student shared that during a stressful moment in preparing a major campus event, "Dr. Galloway gave up much of his Fall Break to ensure everything was in place so that the event could proceed without a hitch. Without his help, four of our twelve teams would not have been able to participate." Students repeatedly describe him as dedicated, approachable, and tireless in his advocacy on their behalf.
Jacob Sauer, Associate professor of anthropology and winner of the Ellen Gregg Ingalls Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Classroom Teaching. Professor Sauer has been a member of the Vanderbilt faculty for 12 years and serves as director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Anthropology. According to his student nomination, he is "an exceptional professor" who combines deep disciplinary knowledge with a warm, approachable style. He is known for encouraging students wholeheartedly and connecting with them in transformative ways, inside and outside the classroom. One student wrote, "Dr. Sauer is the reason I fell in love with Vanderbilt and why I'm here today." Susan Verberne-Sutton, principal senior lecturer of chemistry and winner of the Excellence in Immersion Mentoring Award. Dr. Verberne-Sutton has taught at Vanderbilt for over a decade and is widely praised for her transformative mentorship, particularly in support of first-generation and low-income students. One student called her "the best mentor I've had at Vanderbilt," crediting her with helping to launch the university's first faculty mentorship program for FGLI students. With Dr. Verberne-Sutton's guidance, the student went on to present their work at the IvyG Conference at Brown University and the 2024 NASPA Conference in Seattle and partnered with the Parent Engagement Office to develop a new resource for FGLI families navigating the college experience. The selection committee commended the far-reaching impact of this work, noting how her dedicated mentorship has helped advance equity and community on campus. Also awarded but unable to attend are: Daniel Fleetwood, professor of electrical engineering and winner of the Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching. Please join me in congratulating these remarkable members of our faculty.
I will now call the names of the professors emeritus for their contributions to Vanderbilt. Will the professors who are present please stand to be recognized? We will also recognize those not able to join us today. Naji N. Abumrad, professor emeritus of surgery. Mary Margaret Chren, Robert N. and Rachelle Buchanan and A.H. and Lucile Lancaster Chair in Dermatology Emerita and Professor Emerita of Dermatology. David A. Cole, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Human Development. Mark R. Denison, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics. Marshall C. Eakin, Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of History. Philip Franck, Professor Emeritus of Theatre. Kathy L. Gaca, Associate Professor Emerita of Classical and Mediterranean Studies. Douglas C. Heimburger, Professor Emeritus of Medicine. Michael P. Hodges, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy. James A. Johns, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics. Rebecca R. Keck, Senior Associate Dean Emerita for Administration. Nancy J. King, Lee S. and Charles A. Speir, Professor of Law Emerita and Professor Emerita of Law. Karen Ann Krieger, Associate Professor Emerita of Piano. Peter Lake, Martha Rivers Ingram University Distinguished Professor of History and the History of Christianity Emeritus. Jonathan Lamb, Professor Emeritus of English. Robert F. Miller, Professor Emeritus of Medicine. Bridget E. Orr, Professor Emerita of English. Douglas D. Perkins, Professor Emeritus of Human and Organizational Development. David H. Price, Professor Emeritus of Jewish Studies. Wayne A. Ray, Professor Emeritus of Preventive Medicine. Nancy B. Reisman, Professor Emerita of English. Ann Richmond, Professor Emerita of Pharmacology. Edward B. Saff, Distinguished Professor of Mathematics Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Mathematics. Herwig J. Schlunk, Professor Emeritus of Law. Mavis N. Schorn, Senior Associate Dean Emerita for Academics. John S. Sergent, Professor Emeritus of Medicine. David Shaffer, Professor Emeritus of Surgery. Sharon L. Shields, Professor Emerita of Human and Organizational Development. Marybeth Shinn, Professor Emerita of Human and Organizational Development. Daniel H. Usner, Holland N. McTyeire Professor of History Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of History. Robert E. Whaley, Valere Blair Potter Professor of Finance Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Management. John D. York, Natalie Overall Warren Chair in Biochemistry Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry. Thank you to these faculty members for their dedication and service to Vanderbilt. You may be seated. Or if you already are, congratulations again. So wonderful.
I now would like to recognize the winners of the Founder's Medals. (Applause) These awards were endowed by Cornelius Vanderbilt. The recognition of the Founder's Medals continues that tradition of honoring the student graduating with top honors from each of Vanderbilt's schools. At yesterday's Graduates Day event, the Founder's Medal was placed on each medal winner by the dean of their school or college. This placing of the medal by the deans recognizes the significance of the deans' support for Vanderbilt students. I am now honored to present the 2025 undergraduate Founder's Medalists, and I ask the Founder's Medalists to stand at their seats and remain standing as the names of the medalists are called. Nikki Takahashi Weitzenhoffer is this year's Founder's Medalist for the College of Arts and Science. She is graduating with a bachelor of arts. Charles Thomas Schmitt is this year's Founder's Medalist for the Blair School of Music. He is graduating with a bachelor of music. Grace Ann Jones is this year's Founder's Medalist for the School of Engineering. She is graduating with a bachelor of science. Samuel Elliott Lu is this year's Founder's Medalist for Peabody College. He is graduating with a Bachelor of Science. Congratulations again to all of our Founder's Medalists on their remarkable achievements. You may be seated. » Congratulations to all of our medalists. And it's now my distinct honor to recognize and thank the professors emeriti as well as several other important individuals whose dedicated service is woven throughout the fabric of this university. I ask that you please hold your applause until everyone has been recognized and then join me in thanking these pillars of our community for their loyal commitment to Vanderbilt. With us today are members of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust and board Chairman Bruce Evans, who as fiduciaries and leaders guide and strengthen our institution. I am delighted to acknowledge the members of the great Class of 1975! (Applause) I did the thing with the applause, but that's all right. Who are joining us today celebrating their 50th Reunion this year; they exemplify "Vanderbilt for Life." We look forward to seeing the Class of 1975 during reunion weekend. I would like to recognize the president of our Alumni Association, Todd Graham. We are grateful for Todd's exemplary leadership and dedication and his steadfast commitment to strengthen the ties that connect Vanderbilt to its global alumni community and to ensure that the Vanderbilt spirit endures across generations. I am honored to recognize the members of Vanderbilt's world-renowned faculty. These remarkable individuals have dedicated their lives to providing transformative education and conducting pathbreaking research. They are committed to our students' success and the improvement of society, and they deserve enormous gratitude. Professors emeriti, members of the Board of Trust, members of the 50th Reunion class, president of the Alumni Association, and members of the faculty, would you please stand so we may express our appreciation? (Applause) Graduates, family members and friends, please join me in recognizing the valuable contributions of these inspiring leaders. (Applause) Thank you.
Finally, I would like to commend our University Ceremonies and Events team, Communications and Marketing staff, Faculty marshals, staff marshals, and Commencement volunteers, Vanderbilt Facilities staff, Vanderbilt University Public Safety and the crew members from LifeFlight for their dedicated work in making today's ceremony possible. A special thank you to Faculty Marshal Josh McGuire for his invaluable leadership and dedication in ensuring the success of today's ceremony. I now welcome the chairman of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust, Bruce Evans, to say a few words to our graduating students. (Applause) » BRUCE EVANS: On behalf of Vanderbilt's Board of Trust, it is my great honor to congratulate Vanderbilt's Class of 2025 and to warmly welcome your loved ones. Graduates, today celebrates a major achievement. The Board and I join you in the deep sense of pride you should be feeling, now. You have lived up to Vanderbilt's commitment to excellence, and today's moment is well earned. But this moment is about more than your academic degrees. Your education was marked by continuous, rapid change -- in our nation and in our world -- and, in many ways, you are stepping into one of the most complex and uncertain eras in recent memory. You have met the challenges of our times with admirable integrity, resilience, and a deep sense of purpose and values, and everything you have done has shown what you are capable of... You have evolved. And you've seen our university evolve, too, growing in ambition and reach, thinking big. When speaking of our new ventures and growth, Chancellor Diermeier likes to use a saying, which is: "At Vanderbilt we are proud but not satisfied." The people of Vanderbilt are not known for resting on our laurels. We celebrate them, together, but we never pause for long. We simply set more lofty ambitions, we dare to grow, more. You will see this as you join our alumni community along with your peers. All the people who, as students, inspired and supported you in your experiences here will continue to do so in your lives and careers. Our alumni community is made up of people you know well, the same kind of character-driven leaders, bold innovators, and radical collaborators you sit among now, except there are a lot more of them! They are a global network of people whose Commencement dates stretch back even further than mine, and that was 44 years ago! I know you will bring to this community your dedication to lifelong learning, to one another, and to creating positive change. These values form the metaphorical "anchor" of our alma mater, always aboard, wherever we sail. As you come into your own during our rapidly changing era, know that you are prepared. We believe in you, and we can't wait to keep cheering you on. Congratulations, graduates! And Crescere aude. (Applause) »
CHANCELLOR DIERMEIER: Parents, families and friends, members of the Board of Trust, esteemed faculty, valued alumni, dedicated staff: what an honor it is to join you in celebrating the hard work and remarkable achievements of the Vanderbilt University Class of 2025! (Cheers and Applause) Graduates, one of the greatest privileges I have as chancellor is to look out from this podium and see you all assembled here at the threshold of the rest of your lives. In your faces, and in your faces, I see joy. I see pride. And in one or two cases, I see the consequences of last night's poor decision-making. (Laughter) But mostly when I look out at you, I see promise. I see so many stories about to unfold. It is customary for me as chancellor to send you off with some parting words, a benediction, or if you like, from your alma mater. Here is what I want to tell you: You are stepping into the world at a moment of great and rapid change. From the economy to technology to geopolitics, much is in flux. Every day brings news of some tectonic shift. The uncertainty this creates is profound and persistent, and can be deeply unsettling. Wherever we turn, there seem to be more questions than answers. Eleanor Roosevelt said of her era, "We cannot tell from day to day what may come. This is no ordinary time. No time for weighing anything except what we can best do for the country as a whole. And that rests, that responsibility, on each and every one of us as individuals." Dealing with uncertainty is hard. We can retreat into fear, or we can face our challenges with courage and the goal to make this our proudest moment. We do not choose the hand destiny deals us, but we can choose to play it well, to the best of our ability and with the right attitude. Leaders, never give in to either despair or wishful thinking. We need to face the facts of our situation with the utmost realism… but hold onto the faith that we will prevail. Class of 2025, the message I want to leave you with is this: You are made for this moment. You have what it takes to meet it. And meet it, you must. Today you join an unbroken chain of graduates reaching back to our first proper commencement in 1877, a class that walked into a world still being remade by civil war. Since then, graduates like you have left Vanderbilt during two grinding World Wars… the Great Depression, the horrors and triumphs of the Civil Rights era, the Great Recession, and, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic. What those students discovered is what I want to remind you of today: As Vanderbilt students, you have what you need to meet this moment and the challenges of your time. To begin with, you have learned the art of radical collaboration—working with others across different expertise and understanding. This is vital, because no one solves complex problems or achieves great things alone. And no single person, organization, or sector has all the answers. Whatever you do next, you will join others with common purpose, and you will be most successful if you cast your net for expertise wide. You have also learned to take risks and innovate, to put your own ideas forward. This took courage, and it is courage that will serve you well as you walk through life and find that some of the most existing maps and ready answers no longer apply. Growth of any kind takes courage. This insight is at the root of our motto: "dare to grow." One of the most vital lessons I hope you have learned here is to stay open to other viewpoints. Never stop developing this ability. Polarization is the plague of our time. It does more than just doom us to a life of uncomfortable Thanksgiving dinners. Polarization and the rush to righteousness by too many in our civic life is America's greatest obstacle to progress, to solving the problems that threaten every one of us, regardless of our politics. The writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has warned of the danger of knowing only a single story about other people and places. She said: "It robs people of dignity. It makes our recognition of our equal humanity difficult. It emphasizes how we are different rather than how we are similar." Seek out other stories, other viewpoints, even those you do not like, so that you might better know the world. So that you can avoid the trap of righteous illusions. So that you might stay open to the better argument. And so that you might be continuously reminded of our common humanity. The Community Creed we asked you to live by these past four years calls on us to openly engage with ideas and experiences, to treat one another with respect, to be connected with each other, and to be courageous. Unlike your Commodore Card, the wisdom of the Community Creed never expires. Carry it with you always. After all, Cornelius Vanderbilt himself charged us with "helping to strengthen the ties that should exist between all sections of our common country." And finally, among the greatest assets you take with you into this uncertain time are your values and your very own purpose. These have been shaped by your family, perhaps by your faith communities, by those you count as heroes and role models, and by your hard-won experience. I hope they have also been shaped by what you've learned at Vanderbilt. In the end, you must choose your purpose and your values for yourself. Clarify them and let them always be your North Star and the common ground you find with others you might otherwise differ with. This, graduates, is the first part of my message to you: You have what you need to meet this moment. The second part is: Go use it. Don't wait. Don't stand on the sidelines. Don't hope for an easier moment. Don't hold your gifts in reserve or let someone else do the difficult tasks. Whatever you care about, whatever you're planning next, commit with everything you have. Meet the world on its own terms, starting right now. Moments of uncertainty and challenge are when we grow the most. Setting off into the unknown demands our best. It demands creativity and heart. The foggy road ahead can stop us in our tracks or it can inspire us to light the way. I promise you, the moments when you walk into the unknown and improvise using all your skills and knowledge—these are the moments you will look back on and say, "That was when I was most alive." This is timeless wisdom. In Ancient Rome, Seneca warned against being a mere spectator of life. Shakespeare wrote that "Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt." Theodore Roosevelt declared that all credit belongs to the one "who is actually in the arena, who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds... who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." And no less than Martin Luther King Jr. said, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Graduates, this is your moment, your calling. Get in the arena. With whatever gifts are yours, get in the arena and use them. Are you guaranteed to succeed? Of course not. Life is unpredictable. Some days you get knocked down. But on other days you beat Alabama! (Applause) I'm just glad they took the goalposts down here. And here's something to remember about the victor of Alabama. Remember people said, we shocked the world. But as Coach Lea and Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee have told us, that victory was no accident. We were prepared. We strode into that arena with everything we had, ready to play. We had no illusions about what we were up against. But we believed we could prevail. My dear graduates, every era is an uncertain era. The world has never been a quiet place. History does not unfold in tidy episodes. And against its epic and messy backdrop, we must live the stories of our own lives. It is time to go and live yours. You have what you need. The world awaits all you have to give it. I know you will make us proud. Go now with the blessing of your alma mater, as educated women and men. Crescere aude, Class of 2025. Congratulations, godspeed, and Anchor Down. Pgh (Applause). Place »
ALISSA HARE: Class of 2025, please remain seated. At this time, I would like to dismiss the members of the Class of 1975, the 50th Reunion Class who have joined us today, as well as our emeriti faculty, processing faculty, vice chancellors, and members of our Board of Trust. Graduates and guests, please join me in recognizing them. (Applause) (Music) » CHANCELLOR DIERMEIER: Graduates, it is now time that we ceremonially acknowledge that which you have accomplished. We now invite each of you to cross the stage and be recognized as a symbol of your crossing Vanderbilt's threshold to enter into service to the world. (Calling of names) » "I present the Spring 2025 graduates of the College of Arts and Science." (Calling of names). (Calling of names) is. » I present the fall 2024 graduates of the College of Arts and Science. (Applause) (Calling of names) The Peabody Medal is the highest honor the college can bestow on a graduating student. It is awarded to the graduate who best personifies academic distinction, professional accomplishment, and contributions to Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, and the larger community; a Master's degree student and one to a Doctor of Education student. This year's Master's Degree Peabody Medalist is Skyler M. Hughes. Skyler, will you come to the stage? Skyler earned her M.Ed. in Applied Child Studies. As part of her studies, Skyler explored how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and other stressors influence development, including the ways that parents » I present the Summer 2024 graduates of the College of Arts and Science. and other significant relations can buffer or exacerbate these (Calling of names) effects. Through classwork and community placements, Skyler created evidence-based resources on early relational health and trauma-informed tools for families, teachers, and students regarding emotion regulation and well-being. Skyler also led efforts to craft the Tennessee Department of Health's Vitality Toolkit, Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies, thus supporting mothers' and babies' access to quality » This concludes the graduates of the College of Arts and Science. care from pregnancy through the first year to promote lifelong health. (Applause) These opportunities enabled Skyler to develop professional skills relevant to her passion, using research to guide efforts to support families and children exposed to chronic stress. I am happy to report that Skyler will be staying with us to pursue » I present the Spring 2025 graduates of Blair School of Music. doctoral study in Clinical Psychology in the Department of Psychology and Human (Calling of names) Development. Skyler, I am pleased to confer on you the Peabody Medal. And now, to our other graduates: You are the reason we are here today. Only you know the total cost of the years leading to this moment. Many of you pursued your degrees while maintaining a career, raising children, or caring for others. You persevered, and you made it. Along the way, you have learned the theories of your discipline, and you have applied them to practicums and capstone projects. Many of you have already created meaningful and beneficial experiences for others. All of you have the potential to change lives and make ours a better world. Your families, friends, and colleagues have shared your dream and accompanied you on this journey. We honor their hard work and sacrifice, too. Please join me in expressing our » I present the Spring 2025 graduates of Blair School of Music. (Applause) appreciation. (Calling of names) At this ceremony, we are honoring graduates who have earned the Master of Education and Master of Public Policy degrees. Each of these degrees symbolizes the command you've achieved over a body of knowledge. And because they are degrees earned at Peabody, they also indicate your commitment to put your knowledge to work in service to others. As a college, Peabody has long sought to foster human flourishing for people from all walks of life and all sectors of society. We concern ourselves especially with children, families, organizations, and communities. We prepare scholars and professionals who will add to our store of knowledge, strengthen public and private life, and lead or reform institutions. Of course, Peabody College, faculty and students have a special focus on learning and development. We are committed to educating future generations, including children and young adults with special needs, children who are at risk, and learners in parts of the world that are still working to establish effective systems of education. As a college, we strive to prepare our graduates for a pluralistic society. Today you join almost 35,000 living Peabody alumni who are part of this amazing tradition. » I present the Fall 2024 graduates of Blair School of Music. Commencement also is an opportune time to recognize » This concludes the graduates of Blair School of Music. alumni who embody the values and practices we hope our graduates will emulate. The Distinguished Alumna or (Applause) Alumnus Award recognizes significant career and community » I present the Spring 2025 bachelor of engineering graduates of the School of Engineering. achievements, as well as a reputation of excellent (Calling of names) character and a respected and ethical work record. This year's recipient is Senior Associate Dean Sharon Shields. Sharon Shields has been a member of the Peabody College community for 51 years, since 1974, when she began her academic career as a graduate
Teaching assistant while earning her Ph.D. in health and physical education. She then became an assistant professor in the Health and Physical Education department.
In 1979, Peabody College merged with Vanderbilt University. Dean Shields is the only remaining Peabody faculty member from before the merger. Over the decades, Dean Shields has held numerous Peabody and Vanderbilt roles. She was made professor of organizational development in 1993. She co-founded and helped lead the Vanderbilt Medical Center for Health Promotion in 1982, and the Kim Dayani Center beginning in 1989.
As a teacher, Dean Shields proved to be an innovator. In one instance, she developed an interdisciplinary Health Promotion and Education Program that integrated resources from Peabody College with the Vanderbilt Medical Center and the Nursing School. Dean Shields' scholarship focused on health promotion, exercise science, and service-learning, with contributions to esteemed journals. Much of this work has sought to address the nutritional needs of children, including those from indigenous populations.
During the early 1990s, she pioneered service-learning courses that emphasized experiential education, and she co-led the training of numerous faculty in creating such opportunities. From 2002-2005, she served as assistant provost for academic service-learning. These efforts preceded today's university-wide emphasis on immersion experiences. In 2012, Sharon became associate dean for professional education and student engagement, and she was promoted to senior associate dean for student engagement and well-being in 2020.
Sharon also served as the inaugural faculty head of house for Murray House in the Ingram Commons from 2007-2012, where she developed intergenerational programming. In 2020, I asked her to serve as interim director of the Susan Gray inclusive preschool, which she did for two years.
In all these various roles, and in many others both formal and informal, Sharon has evinced a dedication to Peabody College and Vanderbilt University that is, in my experience, unrivaled. If there is a through-line to her career, Dean Shields has advocated passionately and persistently for those who are treated unequally or are underrepresented. Most prominently, she has been a consistent voice for women athletes and the enforcement of Title IX. Her efforts on behalf of women athletes were honored with an SEC Title IX Trailblazer Award in 2022. And she has been involved in numerous committees at Peabody and Vanderbilt in which she has advocated for faculty and student welfare and an inclusive, expressive community. And did I mention that Dean Shields is also among those faculty who also were named to emeriti status today?
After half a century of service, Sharon will be retiring this summer. But before she goes, Sharon, it gives me huge pleasure to confer on you the 2025 Peabody College Distinguished Alumna Award.
>> Dean Benbow, platform party, and fellow colleagues that have Emerita status today, the colleagues, revered staff, families and guests, and you, engramuates -- the graduates, I'm deeply honored to receive the distinction of distinguished alumna of Peabody College. Peabody has given me a profound reverence for the values and mission of the college and provided a place for me to live out my life's calling. I am grateful for the 51 years I have called Peabody College home. And now, graduates. It seems just like yesterday that I welcomed you to sit at the table of learning and discovery here at Peabody College. I told you that we chose you to be a part of our community and you boldly accepted that invitation and pulled up a chair to the table to pursue your academic, personal, and professional dreams. And now it is an honor and privilege to stand before you today as we both are commencing on a new chapter in life. I sat where you're sitting 49 years ago and received my PhD from this college. I do know the feelings of pride and hope, and yes, maybe a little trepidation, as you and I both embark on new journeys. So, let's have one last heart-to-heart talk. Today I want to leave you with a simple but what I believe is a very powerful thought: If you don't have a seat at the table, then pull up a folding chair. This quote was spoken by Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress. Her words give us a call to action. It is a mindset that can endure throughout our lives. It is a way of living in a world that presents us with the opportunity to open doors and build bridges for all of humanity. So let's just take a moment to reflect. Life does not always invite us in. I know that you have been at tables of influence, but we have all been left out at times from places where our voices should have been heard. The table, it might have been a boardroom, a brainstorming session, a political forum, or simply a space where decisions are being made that affect your life and the life of others. Sometimes you will look around and realize there are no open seats, that no one thought to invite you, or worse yet, you were not even given a thought at all. In those moments, we all have a choice--we can shrug our shoulders and walk away defeated or pull up a folding chair and sit at the table and contribute. Today I am challenging you to take action: Pull up a chair. Susan B. Anthony proclaimed that we should never experience a season of silence. Don't let your voice be quieted. Deepen your sympathy, then convert it to action. Pray every single second of your life, not just on your knees but with your work. Think your best thoughts, speak your best words, do your best work. There is so much yet to be done. End quote. So I urge you, bring your own chair, show up, give voice, refuse to be overlooked. You have been prepared by this college and your life experiences and your passion to be confident and bold in this world. In my own case, my Peabody education prepared and empowered me to champion women's rights through advocacy for the implementation of Title IX. It empowered me to advocate for children's nutrition and disability rights. It empowered me to advocate for underserved communities and places like the Navajo reservation and the Dominican Republic. I could have never imagined 49 years ago the opportunities I'd be afforded to sit at the tables of decision-makers and those who influence. I have learned to put the common good of society above all else. Peabody has not prepared you to be another face in the crowd that does not stand up for your convictions as you enter a messy, complicated, and difficult world. Our educational systems, our economy, and our environment have never been confronted at a time of more uncertainty, and other sacrifice and risk.
(Calling of names)
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>> I present the Fall 2024 bachelor of engineering graduates of the School of Engineering.
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>> I present the Spring 2025 bachelor of science graduates of the School of Engineering.
(Applause)
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>> I present the Fall 2024 bachelor of science graduates of the School of Engineering.
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>> I present the Summer 2024 bachelor of science graduates of the School of Engineering.
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>> This concludes the graduates of the School of Engineering.
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>> I present the graduates of the Next Steps program.
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>> This concludes the graduates of the Next Steps program.
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>> I present the Spring 2025 graduates of Peabody College.
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>> I present the Fall 2024 graduates of Peabody College.
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>> I present the Spring 2024 graduates of Peabody College.
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>> This concludes the graduates of Peabody College.
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>> CHANCELLOR DIERMEIER: As we near the close of this ceremony, I ask that you please rise and join with Riley Eddins as he leads us in singing Vanderbilt's Alma Mater.
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>> CHANCELLOR DIERMEIER: We have now arrived at that greatly anticipated moment our graduates have all worked so diligently toward: the conferral of academic degrees. The charges that I will read to our graduates were written by Alexander Heard, Vanderbilt's fifth chancellor. They are a part of Vanderbilt's legacy that has been passed down through generations and imparted to every graduate of this university since Chancellor Heard's tenure. Graduates, in receiving these charges, you are joined to a lineage that precedes you, that will endure after you, and which flourishes because of you. First, Dean Tim McNamara will present the candidates for the degree offered by the College of Arts and Science.
>> TIM McNAMARA: Will the candidates from the College of Arts and Science please stand? And the other candidates can have a seat. Thank you. Mr. Chancellor, I have the honor of presenting these candidates for the degree of bachelor of arts. They have fulfilled the requirements established by the College of Arts and Science and are recommended by the faculty for the conferral of that academic degree.
>> DANIEL DIERMEIER: I salute you for your academic achievements and distinctions and, in the name of an educated society, welcome you to all of the obligations and privileges of educated individuals. Congratulations. Please be seated.
(Applause) Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Tucker Biddlecombe, will present candidates for the degrees of Blair School of Music.
>> TUCKER BIDDLECOMBE: Will the candidates from Blair School of Music please stand? Mr. Chancellor, I have the honor of presenting these students for the degrees of Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Musical Arts. They have fulfilled the requirements established by Blair School of Music and are recommended by the faculty for the conferral of that academic degree.
>> CHANCELLOR DIERMEIER: I salute you for the academic distinction you have earned in your study of the art of music and commend the use of your skills and knowledge to the exaltation of the human spirit and the preservation of human culture. Congratulations.
(Applause) Please be seated. Dean Krishnendu Roy will present candidates for the degrees of the School of Engineering.
>> KRISH ROY: Will the candidates from the School of Engineering please stand? Mr. Chancellor, I have the honor of presenting these students for the degrees of Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Science. They have fulfilled the requirements established by the School of Engineering and are recommended by the faculty for the conferral of these academic degrees.
>> DANIEL DIERMEIER: I congratulate you on the academic and professional foundations you have built for yourselves and commend the use of your exceptional training in the building of a better world for all people. Congratulations.
(Applause) Please be seated. The chair of the Department of Human and Organizational Development, Nicole Allen, will present candidates for the degrees of Peabody College.
>> NICOLE ALLEN: Will the candidates from Peabody College of Education and Human Development please stand? Mr. Chancellor, I have the honor of presenting these students for the degree of Bachelor of Science. They have fulfilled the requirements established by Peabody College and are recommended by the faculty for the conferral of these academic degrees. I would also like to recognize the graduating students of the Next Steps program. They have completed the program established by Peabody College.
>> DANIEL DIERMEIER: I salute you for your academic achievements and distinctions and commend the use of your training, your art, and your skill to the continued creation and sustenance of an enlightened and literate society. Congratulations.
(Applause) I now invite all who have been presented for degrees to rise to have their degrees conferred. By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Board of Trust of Vanderbilt University, and by the vote of the University, and by the vote of the Faculties, I confer upon each of you the degrees for which you have qualified and extend to you the best wishes of your alma mater now and for all the days of your lives. Friends, families and guests, please join me in recognizing these remarkable graduates!
(Applause) Graduates, the true measure of a university is the difference its alumni make in the world. I am entrusted by Vanderbilt with the privilege of now sending you forth to invest your gifts and talents in the betterment of society and bring honor upon your alma mater. Graduates, congratulations. Friends, families and guests, this ceremony is concluded.
(Cheers and Applause)
(Music)