Generous support from our alumni and friends is critical to the continued success of the Graduate School of Vanderbilt University. Gifts of all sizes come together to help us achieve the all-important goal of training the next generation of leaders in a variety of disciplines.
Large or small, your contribution helps us continue to support the scholarly pursuits of our students and faculty, and advance Vanderbilt's education and research mission. Learn how your gift will help the Graduate School.
Powering Innovation
Scholarships and fellowships are vital to the advancement of graduate student research, personal development, and professional success. Philanthropic support ensures that our students have the opportunities they need to produce academically rigorous work, engages innovative methods, and reveals fresh perspectives. Ultimately, this work drives breakthroughs with the potential to impact not only one field of study, but also our broad global community.
Our Commitment to Inclusive Excellence
A broadly diverse community increases our capabilities, expands opportunities for new ideas, and powers our success. In the last two decades, Vanderbilt has made significant progress in creating an inclusive environment where equity and diversity are valued at all levels, including among graduate programs. Philanthropic support directed toward recruitment and retention of extraordinary faculty scholars from all backgrounds and experiences will accelerate and enhance our impact and ensure our continued ability to attract world-changing scholars and leaders.
Extending our Impact
Vanderbilt is unique among top-tier research schools in that our 10 colleges are located on a single 330-acre campus, intentionally designed to foster collaboration and innovation. The Graduate School serves as a vital hub, connecting scholars and faculty across schools and disciplines.
As we build for our future, we seek philanthropic support to seize opportunities to amplify our achievements, elevate our reputation, and extend our impact—such as the development of a national conference to promote innovative scholarship and facilitate networking among thought-leaders, and support for forward-thinking research agendas and mentoring programs.
Donor Recognition: The Provost’s Circle
Donors who make gifts of $2,500 or more are recognized as members of the Provost’s Circle. Alumni who graduated within the last 10 years can become members with a gift of $1,000 or more. Membership is renewed by making qualifying gifts each fiscal year (July 1 to June 30).
Provost’s circle recognition levels:
- Recent graduate member (graduated in last 10 years): $1,000
- Benefactor: $5,000-$9,999
- Dean's List: $10,000-$24,999
- Cornelius Vanderbilt Circle: $25,000 or above
Ways to Give
A note from the desk of Dean Christie-Mizell:
Vanderbilt University’s Graduate School is known for academic rigor and the pursuit of excellence in research and innovation. Donor support drives innovation at Vanderbilt, and it funds scholarships and fellowships that make world-class education broadly accessible. I ask you to consider supporting the Graduate School this year.
Our graduate programs attract and select the best and brightest students, bringing them together in a spirit of radical collaboration. This collaborative environment allows them to enhance each other’s skills and knowledge, fostering a community where every member contributes to and benefits from collective growth. Each doctoral student at Vanderbilt engages in research and scholarship that not only prepares them for their field of practice, but also contributes significantly to the university’s success. Examples of Vanderbilt graduate students emerging as leaders in their fields include:
- Creea Shannon, a graduate student in biomedical informatics and social change advocate who is passionate about inspiring young people to pursue careers in science and technology. Shannon uses computational models to explore health disparities in marginalized groups and has published the children’s book STEM Inspires Me! The book is about Cre the Scientist, who shares how STEM is used in everyday life.
- Kayla Anderson, a community research and action graduate student and community organizer whose research is grounded in theories of environmental justice and community power and empowerment. Anderson is the co-facilitator of the Nashville Youth Design Team, a youth participatory action research project that engages high school students in a paid year-round internship that uses design thinking and research methods to understand and address youth-oriented challenges in the built environment.
- José Zepeda, a Ph.D. candidate in pharmacology and a poet, who studies experience-dependent synaptic plasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire itself after an experience. Outside of his research, he writes poetry and prose centered around the Mexican-American identity. Zepeda’s goal is to form part of the fundamental research that will allow for the development of cures and treatments for neurological disorders and diseases.
Supporters like you have a profound impact on student research and discovery, helping to shape the innovators and leaders who will change the world. By donating, you become a crucial part of this transformative journey. At Vanderbilt, students are challenged and supported by their peers, mentors and mentees to foster a collaborative environment where they thrive. Your support allows them to engage in groundbreaking research, develop innovative solutions and grow into well-rounded individuals poised to make significant societal contributions. Graduate School students recognize that collaboration and community achievement are as crucial to their success as personal accomplishment—and this serves them well.
Your contributions help us fulfill our commitment to inclusive excellence, recruiting and retaining top talent, and creating a sense of belonging at Vanderbilt for every student we serve. Please continue supporting the Graduate School and investing in tomorrow’s leaders.