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Staff transitions
Sep. 12, 2019—A note from dean townes on staff transitions at Vanderbilt Divinity We are in a season of transitions as we begin a new academic year with a “new” building that has increased the Divinity School’s physical footprint that better reflects who we say we want to be based on our Purpose and Commitments. Living into...
VDS Building Dedication and Convocation
Sep. 11, 2019—View the building dedication and convocation writeup, here, and photos from the events below, by clicking on the image.
A Faculty Statement with Regard to Wage Theft
Sep. 4, 2019—Preface: We wrote this statement in light of a recent labor dispute, now resolved with support from Worker’s Dignity and the University and Divinity School. The conflict arose when a subcontractor of the primary construction company for the Divinity School renovation did not pay $66,000 owed to Armando Arzate and his colleagues whom the subcontractor had...
VDS Welcomes New Assistant Dean
Jul. 26, 2019—We are delighted to share that The Reverend Laura Mariko Cheifetz (pronouns: she/her) is joining the Vanderbilt Divinity Staff as Assistant Dean for Admissions, Vocation, and Stewardship. Laura’s first day will be August 15, 2019. Laura is currently the Campaign Manager for “Flint: The Poisoning of an American City,” a feature-length documentary, and adjunct staff...
2019 Distinguished Alumni Awardees
Feb. 1, 2019—2018-19 Vanderbilt Divinity School and Graduate Department of Religion Distinguished Alumni Award recipients Divinity School Recipient: Dr. James A. Sanders Claremont, CA Vanderbilt Divinity School, Nashville, TN B.D.’51 Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN . B.A. ‘48 James A. Sanders was professor of intertestamental and biblical studies at the Claremont School of Theology (CST) from 1977 to...
On Becoming Human
Dec. 21, 2018—By: Katherine H. Smith Jeremiah 33:14-16 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice...
vote your conscience
Nov. 5, 2018—monthly message from emilie m. townes, vanderbilt divinity school dean One of the most exciting things I did as a youth was to vote in my first election. I asked my folks and other adults over and over again what they actually did behind that curtain. The idea that I would soon be behind that...
Convocation Address from SGA President
Sep. 7, 2018—What is community? I am standing here as the representative of our communal body to invite you all into our shared adventure, and as I attempted to write this speech I kept asking myself multiple questions. What did I need to hear as a first year? How do I imagine and reimagine this community? And...
There is no peace
May. 16, 2018—A statement from Emilie M. Townes, dean of Vanderbilt Divinity School, regarding the recent events in Gaza. I was shocked into speechlessness and a growing sense of horror, sorrow, and mourning when I opened up my Facebook feed on Monday morning. As the death toll and injury count of Palestinian protestors rose throughout the day,...
Charge to the Graduates of 2018
May. 14, 2018—Delivered by Emilie M. Townes, dean of Vanderbilt Divinity School on May 11, 2018 to the 2018 graduating class. i have no new words for you that you do not already know that you have not already heard that you not already seen or tried to live, if only occasionally sometimes so instead, i will remind...