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When art + science come together, anything is possible
November 2025
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I’ve been a cognitive psychologist for more than 40 years. I have published nearly 150 scientific papers, received many federal grants, directed a research lab, and taught and mentored thousands of students. However, a few weeks ago I was in a situation where an undergraduate student taught me something I knew absolutely nothing about. As you’ll see in the video below, theatre student Mackenna Guadagnoli gave me a wonderful lesson in stage design and production, from building to weaving to painting to lighting. The experience reminded me that no matter our knowledge and skills, we have a tremendous amount to learn about the world from others—as long as we remain curious and open to new perspectives. This is one of the core benefits of an A&S education. Our students are encouraged to explore what they don’t know, persevere when they don’t understand, and consider what they don’t agree with. We believe that these experiences will help students become compassionate, engaged, and effective future leaders who will make a positive impact on our society.
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My best,
Timothy P. McNamara
Searcy Family Dean of the College of Arts and Science
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Behind the scenes with the Department of Theatre
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Join Dean McNamara as he goes behind the scenes with Mackenna Guadagnoli (class of 2026) on the set of Theatre’s latest production, learning a few things along the way.
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| For the first time, three A&S student films were accepted into the Nashville Film Festival, with one winning honorable mention and the audience choice award.
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A&S students Tao-Tao He and Ally Hansen are creating original Immersion Vanderbilt projects that blend AI, music theory, and cognitive science.
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| New exhibits in three campus locations highlight hands-on learning projects created by former A&S undergraduate students in collaboration with the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries.
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Originally from Zimbabwe, Mhingiro earned the Outstanding Senior award for exemplifying the values of the university community through leadership, service, and passion.
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INDEPENDENT: The easy household trick that could reduce your energy bill by 10%
Jonathan Gilligan (Earth and environmental sciences), quoted.
The New York Times: Murderer, martyr or mirror? The first Luigi Mangione book is here.
Jonathan Metzl (medicine, health, and society), authored this book review.
LiveScience: Giant North American ‘hell pigs’ could crunch bones like lions 30 million years ago, tooth analysis reveals
Larisa DeSantis (biological sciences) and Brynn Wooten (doctoral candidate), quoted.
The Tennessean: Is college worth it? Are campuses too polarized? What Vanderbilt's national poll says
Josh Clinton (political science), quoted.
Art Africa: Prefabricating Solidarity at Begonia Labs, the Engine for Art, Democracy, and Justice in Nashville: IMS Žeželj Between Yugoslavia, Cuba, and Angola
Vesna Pavlović (art), interviewed.
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Vanderbilt hosted more than 5,800 alumni and guests on campus for Reunion and Homecoming 2025—the largest in university history! See if you can spot some familiar faces on Instagram.
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| Something for every Commodore. Whether they’re on campus, across the country, or cheering from overseas, these gifts make it easy to celebrate Vanderbilt pride wherever the season takes you.
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It's your college. Stay connected.
@vuartsci
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Vanderbilt College of Arts and Science 2301 Vanderbilt Place, PMB 406014 | Nashville, TN 37240-6014 US
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