From the FAB Lab to Fort Campbell: Maker Tech Jeremiah Crosswhite
For the past few months, Jeremiah has worked with adaptive fashion design companies, the military, and Vanderbilt faculty, staff, and students to develop prototypes of soft goods (clothing and other goods made of soft textiles).
Wond’ry staff member, Innovation Facilitator Holley Seals-Lizarraga, wanted a custom-designed jumpsuit. After trial and error, Jeremiah, Holley, and Alex Sargent Capps conceptualized a functional unisex design that fulfilled Holley’s specific vision, with special features that can be built into most jumpsuit patterns and would benefit similar products currently on the market.
Jeremiah worked with the US Military on two confidential, ongoing projects, the first of which required innovative problem-solving to reduce the weight of a product currently used in the field. The second is in partnership with Vanderbilt’s Laboratory for Systems Integrity Reliability (LASIR), designing prototypes for a soft good for vehicles. Jeremiah combined skills and ideas on a project inherited from graduated Maker Tech, Chey Sirota, designing and making a paddle aid/prosthesis for Lucy (left and right photo) that facilitates her engagement with two of her favorite activities – kayaking and playing the violin.
Between all these projects, Jeremiah also found time to:
• Develop videos to teach basic skills in the Makerspaces, including hand and machine sewing fundamentals.
• Design a logo for the FAB Lab.
• Prepare fall workshops for exciting projects like upcycled denim bucket hats (middle photo) by making samples that will generate buzz.
Jeremiah summarized his impactful summer this way, “I have learned so much about sewing and the prototyping process that I don’t think I would ever have learned without the opportunity to work at the Wond’ry over this summer break... I am so very grateful for all the opportunities I have gotten.”
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Intriguing Guest Lecturers in THTR 2781: The History of Fashion
Students in the THTR 2781: The History of Fashion summer course had two expert guests who enriched their experience and learning, specifically regarding AI in fashion design.
The first was Clifford Anderson, Chief Digital Strategist at the Vanderbilt University Library and Professor of Religious Studies in Vanderbilt's College of Arts & Science. Cliff taught the fundamentals of several AI image-generating platforms. He also worked with the students on their prompt engineering to facilitate the creation of images to conceptualize and enhance their final class projects.
One student, Sophia Gorski, remarked, "Using AI allowed me to...produce images that I had in my head and enhanced my ability to present my final class project."
The second guest was Ruth Carter, a two-time Academy Award-winning costume designer. She spoke about using AI-generated images in her design process, told inspiring stories, and gave advice about working as a professional costume designer at the top of her craft.
Jamaal Finkley had this to say about Ruth’s visit, “For those who are learning about the history of fashion in Professor Alex Capps class, the experience of asking questions to a history-maker was priceless.”
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Vanderbilt Alumni – UX Speaker Series
Curious about the world of user experience (UX) and where it could take you? We’re excited to introduce this brand-new Vanderbilt alumni speaker series exploring what it means to be a UX professional.
The series begins on September 11th from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM at The Wond’ry 3rd Floor Lounge. It’s open to VU faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members interested in UX. Register here.
Will Berger (‘19) - Level 4 Product Designer at Robinhood. Before Robinhood, he worked at a start-up called Fizz building a credit-building debit card for students, and Capital One working on Capital One app onboarding, reissues, and transactions. He works on interface design, design systems, interaction design, animation, and content design.
Chelsea Yip (‘18) - UX Researcher most recently at Coinbase, where she worked on creating intuitive, delightful payments experiences for crypto. Before Coinbase, Chelsea was a software engineer at Capital One, where she built features like fraud claims and transaction alerts to help protect and secure people’s accounts.
Michael Maerlender (‘19) - New York City-based graphic designer, specializing in branding and identity design. He is currently the branding and design lead at HearstLab, an investment group that supports women-led tech startups through cash investments and hands-on support services.
Aster Samuel (‘19) - UX designer at Google Cloud building. Before Google, she worked at Capital One building financial tools for commercial banking and data analytics. She works on visual design, design systems, design operations, and strategy.
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Notable Highlights: We love getting to celebrate the success of our ventures, students, staff, faculty, and alumni.
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Wond'ry Sullivan Family Ideator Program - Tawfiq Rawnak & Neural AvifaunaTawfiq Rawnak, a rising junior at Vanderbilt, won a $2,500 microgrant from the Wond’ry and joined the Wond’ry Sullivan Family Ideator Program this past summer to further develop his mental-health AI company, Neural Avifauna.
Neural Avifauna is “a cutting-edge mental health technology company that offers innovative solutions for self-therapy and stress management.” The company’s goal is to “harness the power of sound and music to create immersive, therapeutic experiences that promote relaxation, mindfulness, and overall mental wellbeing.”
Tawfiq spent part of his summer pitching Neural Avifauna to many start-ups and philanthropic organizations. He was also one of four people selected to present at the upcoming Nashville Entrepreneur Center Panel & Pitch: Tech Edition. The winning pitch will receive $25,000.
The pitch event is on August 23rd from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM. Admission is free, but you need to reserve a ticket!
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Yesenia Sevilla - TedxOldHickory Guest Speaker
The Wond’ry’s Director of Strategic Engagement & Ecosystem Development, Yesenia Sevilla, will be a featured speaker with TedxOldHickory and present her talk "How Might We Ignite an Innovation Ecosystem."
This year's theme is "Innovation for Social Change," which will bring together global thought leaders, entrepreneurs, change makers, and leaders that believe ideas can change the world.
The event is August 26th, 2023, from 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM CST at the Treemont Mansion in Old Hickory, TN.
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Wond'ry Quantum Studio Students to Present Poster at IEEE Quantum Week
The Wond’ry Quantum Studio has been accepted to present a poster at IEEE Quantum Week 2023 in Washington this September. Two of our quantum students, Serat Mahmud Saad and Anish Giri, will attend in person to present the poster. The poster showcases how the Wond’ry Quantum Studio leverages human-centered design thinking towards addressing the talent shortage in the quantum industry with a focus on inclusivity.
“The IEEE Quantum Week Posters program presents excellent opportunities for graduate students, undergraduate students, researchers, practitioners, entrepreneurs, and start-ups to showcase their work and engage with the international quantum computing R&D community during IEEE Quantum Week. Posters are intended to stimulate discussions of recent advances, experiences, and challenges in quantum computing and engineering.”
Interested in quantum computing? Check out the Upcoming Courses section for more information on the course.
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Upcoming Events: Check out all of the exciting initiative in the Wond'ry areas!
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The Sullivan Family Ideator Program supports university-affiliated innovators through an evidence-based approach to idea evaluation, mentorship, microgrants, and other resources.
The Builder Program supports university-affiliated innovators with validated early-stage ideas, ideal for Ideator graduates and those seeking to launch ventures or pursue licensing.
The Founder Program is an incubator support program for new ventures. Participants will work with dedicated mentors in our Wond'ry Launch space.
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Get to know local campus & community resources, enjoy good food, and dance the afternoon away at the Student Center for Social Justice and Identity Block Party! For any questions and/or additional information regarding accessibility or accommodation, please reach out to scsji@vanderbilt.edu.
- Thursday, August 24th, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Multicultural Community Space
200C 25th Ave N, Nasville, TN 37212 - Free food and free stuff!
- RSVP here
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Social Innovation Lunch & Learn
What’s social innovation? Come find out and enjoy some free food! Register here to learn more. You’ll also learn about upcoming fall programs like:
- Map the System Competition
- Social Innovation Bootcamp
- Climate Innovation Accelerator
- Commodore Cup Innovation Challenge
- And more!
Wednesday, August 30th 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
First floor of the Wond’ry
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Aspiring innovators are invited to practice presenting their ideas and projects to a panel of entrepreneurial experts and mentors. All ideas are welcome. At the end of each event, a mentor panel gives feedback on how to help them improve their projects.
September 13th 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM CT
Held virtually via Zoom – click the link to learn more!
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Challenges and Opportunities:
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Apply for the Map the System 2023-2024 CompetitionWhat is it? – A systems thinking competition that prepares students to understand and help resolve complex social and environmental problems confronting our communities. Apply here by September 10th at midnight.
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Explore social innovation through an introduction to the social innovation landscape from design thinking to field application. Apply here! Application deadline is Wednesday, September 20th.
The bootcamp will take place on Friday, September 29th, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM on the third floor of the Wond'ry. Lunch will be provided. Open to students, staff, faculty, alumni, and Nashville community partners.
Session 1: Intro to Social Innovation
Session 2: Intro to Systems Thinking
Session 3: Intro to Power Dynamics
Session 4: Social Innovation Canvas Model
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Commodore Cup Innovation Challenge
Come join this campus-wide innovation challenge with the theme, “Sustainability.” Choose from two tracks – create a sustainability-dashboard or devise sustainable campus transportation solutions. No design or sustainability experience necessary! Everyone will have access to mentors, advisors, and more to help refine their submissions.
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The Jefferson Street Cohort is a free, 3-session virtual program for STEM entrepreneurs who are ready to build a business out of their great ideas. The program is based on both pre-recorded content and assignments and live discussion sessions and office hours. Apply here by August 24th.
- Pathway to $50,000 in funding - become eligible to apply to the NSF I-Corps National Program
- Mentorship with seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders
- Pitching and microgrant opportunities
- Networking and customer discovery, including the opportunity to attend the 36|86 Festival (a $500 value)
Student entrepreneurs can apply for the opportunity to do customer discovery onsite at the 36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival, the premier destination for dreamers, innovators, storytellers, and global thought leaders! The 36|86 Festival is from September 19 – September 21. All expenses will be paid (a $500 value!). Register here.
Are you between the ages 8 – 18 and have an idea to improve the City of Nashville? Kidizenship is hosting the Show Us YOUR Nashville! Competition to highlight ideas from the thought leaders and change makers of tomorrow. Competitors will present their idea to a panel of judges for the chance to win up to $1,000. The deadline to submit is September 22nd, 2023
Follow your curiosity. Discover your passion. Learn by experience.
Immersion Vanderbilt gives every Vanderbilt student the opportunity to pursue intellectual curiosities through immersive experiences that are as creative and unique as the students themselves.
Many of the Wond’ry’s programs could be part of your Immersion Vanderbilt. Click the link to book an advising session with EL&IV to learn more!
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Upcoming Courses:- The Wond’ry Quantum Studio Quantum Computing Course
September 2023 – April 2024 - Learn the fundamentals of quantum computing
- The Wond'ry & Virtual – 5 hours per week
- Applications due Sept 10th, 2023, at midnight
Sign up here to learn more!
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Support Our StudentsBy making your tax-deductible gift to our Wond’ry Student Project Fund, you help us award students with the funding they need to turn their ideas into reality. Donate here.
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