News
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Exploring anxiety, conflict and imagination at the spring community breakfast
“Your leadership is tied to what you can imagine,” said Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture Jaco Hamman when addressing a room of faith leaders, alumni, and faculty at a recent Vanderbilt Divinity School community event. Hamman also serves as the director of the program in theology and practice… Read MoreApr. 14, 2026
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Before you apply, find your “why”: Advice from graduate, professional students
Thinking of getting an advanced degree? Graduate, professional students give their best advice. Read MoreApr. 13, 2026
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Finding the person I want to be: Heartfelt reflections from graduate and professional students
Graduate and professional students share how they've become more of the person they want to be while at Vanderbilt. Read MoreApr. 8, 2026
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Clearing the Path: New fund eases financial barriers for Divinity students
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — April 1, 2026 — Vanderbilt University Divinity School has received a generous commitment from an anonymous donor family to establish the Clearing the Path Fund, created to help current Divinity students navigate unexpected financial challenges while continuing their theological education and formation. The Clearing the… Read MoreMar. 25, 2026
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Research on intersex experience highlights overlooked population in religious communities
A new book from Stephanie Budwey, an assistant professor of the history and practice of Christian worship and the arts, discusses the erasure of intersex people in the areas of science, law, culture, and theology due to the assumption that all humans are either ‘female’ or ‘male.’ Read MoreOct. 24, 2022
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Fall 2022 Convocation Remarks from Dean emilie m. townes
Dean Emilie M. Townes’ Fall Convocation remarks, as delivered on August 26, 2022 each opening convocation, we have begun by remembering those who have died since we were last together in May and to celebrate the new births during this time as well today, we remember those killed… Read MoreAug. 28, 2022
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Black girl joy, brilliance and magic are front and center at the inaugural Black Girls Becoming summer program
In the spirit of former First Lady Michelle Obama’s memoir, Becoming, the program engages 7th and 8th grade Black girls in two weeks of classes that support their socio-emotional development while developing somatic and academic literacies. Read MoreAug. 1, 2022
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Do the hard and necessary work
A reflection from our dean, Emilie M. Townes, for July 2022: With the early release of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the landmark Roe v. Wade decision written by Justice Alito in May, we knew what the opinion would be. The finality of the end to the constitutional… Read MoreJul. 29, 2022
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The choice for historically Black congregations in Edgehill and 12 South: stay or go
Pastor Darin Freeman of Tabernacle Baptist Church walks around the old property which recently sold at 2214 12 Avenue South in Nashville , Tenn., Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Two years ago the church moved to 6801 Charlotte Pike. NICOLE HESTER / THE TENNESSEAN Originally published at 9:00 p.m. CT July 19,… Read MoreJul. 20, 2022
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The nature and necessity of bone-deep love
Bone-deep love calls us to live our lives out of the possibilities found in wholeness, self-reflection, justice, peace, a new heaven and a new earth, hope and not our shortcomings—that rest on greed, self-centeredness, avarice, coveting, despair. Amazing love moves us to grow in compassion, understanding, and acceptance of each other. A far better place to be morning by morning and day by day. Read MoreMay. 3, 2022