Dear Team,

As we begin a new year filled with new resolutions, expectations and challenges, I’d like to thank all of you for the quality of your work in 2015.

Throughout the year, our team consistently managed and presented complex ideas, issues and research while consistently improving and innovating. The incredible team effort provided to Vanderbilt Admissions materials comes immediately to mind in this regard — the fun musical tribute to our alma mater is a recent example along with the updated personal URLs and attractive print materials. We can be proud of our part in attracting another record-breaking group of students. The number of research stories promoted in 2015 was staggering as well — from new discoveries in the fight against Alzheimer’s to groundbreaking education policy findings — and the material was presented beautifully across multiple platforms.

Our team’s award-winning ways continued with the Strategic Marketing team’s receipt of two eHealthcare Leadership Awards for social media marketing.

While excelling at work, Public Affairs staff members continue to lead productive lives out of the office. The latest deliverable is 8 pound, 9 ounce Wiley, born to Walton and Randy Hall (and big brother William) on Monday, Dec. 28, 2015. He was already rocking the black and gold (in photo at left) at only two days old. While Walton is on maternity leave through April, Ashley Mulkey will be filling in as my executive assistant. Congratulations as well to Travis Waters of the Strategic Marketing team and his wife, Whitney, on the birth of their first child, Gentry Louis, and to long-term Medical Communications team member Bill Snyder and the former Yvonne Moneypenny on their October nuptials.

Thanks again to all of you for being part of the Public Affairs team as we look forward to another productive and exciting year as part of this great university.

Athletics Communications

• Kyle Parkinson represented Vanderbilt on the Southeastern Conference’s media relations team that worked the SEC Championship Football Game in Atlanta in December. Kyle is our primary baseball contact and assists Larry Leathers with football matters in the fall.

• Andy Boggs spent a rough week in Maui as our men’s basketball contact. The Commodores played in the high profile Maui Jim Maui Invitational and somebody had to travel with them to work with ESPN. Andy is a trooper.

Ryan Schulz’s consistent body of good work was a key factor in being given additional responsibilities as the administrator for the track and field program. Ryan (pictured) focuses on many internal communication and department issues including sharing oversight of vucommodores.com.

• Best wishes to Jerome Boettcher as he leaves for a new position at George Mason University. Jerome was a superb editor of Commodore Nation, working often with the Creative Service team, and he was the communications contact for our soccer and lacrosse teams. He is going to be missed.

Contact: Rod Williamson

Center for Nashville Studies

• Mayor Megan Barry referenced the inaugural Vanderbilt Poll-Nashville in an appearance before Nashville’s Agenda Steering Committee in early December during which she first rolled out her youth opportunity platform. VCNS and CNGR will coordinate with the mayor’s staff to provide faculty resources as the city combats the uptick in youth violence in the past year.

• VCNS is working with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and Metro IT on a forthcoming Digital Inclusion Survey for the city of Nashville, modeled after a similar survey in Austin, Texas.

• VCNS assisted Peabody Professor Jim Fraser and his graduate student, Amie Thurber, in the launch of The People’s Guide to Nashville project on Dec. 11 at the Curb Center. They will be collecting hidden or untold stories to include in the compilation.

• Metro Nashville Public Schools was awarded a federal Pre-K Development Grant-Expansion to create additional high-quality preschool seats in Davidson County. VCNS coordinated an invitation for Peabody Professor Deborah Rowe to serve on the advisory committee for the grant.

• A Peabody research report showing that iZone schools within the Achievement School District outperform other schools in the ASD received attention from policymakers in the city and state. VCNS, together with State Government Relations, will create opportunities for state and local policymakers to interact with the report’s author, Peabody faculty member Gary Henry.

• We met with Project MEND representatives from the YWCA who are visioning a plan to develop an on-line toolkit and mobile app to support efforts to include men in the fight against domestic violence.

• Jennifer Johnston again served on the Nashville Chamber’s Education Report Card Committee, which released its recommendations for Metro Nashville Public Schools to Mayor Megan Barry on Dec. 15.

Contact: Jennifer Johnston

Community, Neighborhood and Local Government Relations

• The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Vanderbilt is celebrating 20 years of lifelong learning. The program began in 1995 as Retirement Learning at Vanderbilt with approximately 100 members and nine classes. This past year, membership exceeded 1,200 members with 55 classes offered. At the Dec. 1 Osher holiday gathering, Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos announced a second million dollar endowment from the Osher Foundation.

• 2015 was Dyer Observatory’s first year as an “inholding” within Radnor Lake State Natural Area. With Radnor’s acquistion of additional farmland, Dyer is no longer in danger of encroaching development and outdoor lights affecting the viewshed. In addition, an interactive scale model of the universe has been installed in the front lobby of the observatory thanks to the dedicated work of Dyer Astronomer Billy Teets. The observatory continues to offer Telescope Nights and Open House Days to over 20,000 visitors a year and serves as an event and wedding venue. A catering kitchen, rear access and energy-efficient exterior lighting were added in 2015 to enhance the event space. The Bluebird on the Mountain concert series wrapped up on Saturday, Oct. 3, and this was Dyer’s 13th year of summer camps focusing on astronomy and space science. We proudly continue the tradition of offering scholarships for half of the camp spots to under-served 5th-8th graders.

• This fall, Mary Pat Teague co-chaired the Nashville Civic Design Center’s annual luncheon with Steve Turner (pictured). The luncheon raised a record $125,000 toward NCDC’s mission to improve livability issues that impact Nashville.

Contact: Christine Bradley

Creative Services

• Maggie Harris (pictured) was chosen by her SEC counterparts and CLC (the university’s licensing agent) as the SEC rep for the Collegiate Marketing Fund for a three-year term. The fund’s purpose is to expand the market for officially licensed collegiate merchandise, promote the overall business and generate valuable exposure for officially licensed collegiate merchandise. College Colors Day, Rock Your Colors and Holiday Cheer are three initiatives of the program. Speaking of Holiday Cheer, the Vanderbilt Barnes & Noble Bookstore distributed 1,000 scratch and win cards to customers who purchased Vanderbilt apparel.

• The final weeks of 2015 saw the finalization of the Trademark Licensing Agreement with VUMC as part of the VUMC and VU separation. The “Trademark Guidelines and Usage” brand guidelines have been developed to outline how VUMC will use Vanderbilt trademarks on all products and services. The office will continue to work with the Office of Strategic Marketing after the transition.

Contact: Judy Orr

Office of Federal Relations

• The Office of Federal Relations hosted “Federal STEM Policy & Advocacy: An Inside the Beltway Look.” As part of this Oct. 14-16 seminar, 30 Vanderbilt students, including undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars participated in a three-day seminar in Washington designed to introduce them to STEM-related federal issues, advocacy and career opportunities. The program was hosted in partnership with the School of Engineering, the Graduate School, the School of Medicine’s Biomedical Research Education and Training Office and the Center for Student Professional Development.

• Director of Federal Relations Alex Currie (pictured) worked with the Senate NIH Caucus to facilitate an appearance by James Crowe, director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, at a congressional briefing on Nov. 17. Alex also led efforts to shepherd publication of an op-ed in support of NIH co-written by the four Tennessee medical school deans. The op-ed was published in The Tennessean on Dec. 7.

• Beginning in January, Alex will be rotating onto the steering committee for the Association of American Medical College’s Government Relations Representatives.

Contact: Gabriella Ra’anan

State Government Relations

• The 2016 General Assembly convenes at noon on Jan. 12. Vanderbilt is hosting a reception in honor of the General Assembly a week later on Jan. 19 at the Tennessee State Museum, followed by Vanderbilt Day on the Hill on Feb. 16 at Legislative Plaza.

• As 2015 came to an end, OSGR was engaged in finalizing our legislative priorities for 2016 with more than eight on-going and viable discussions on new legislative initiatives. During the past few months, we coordinated Vanderbilt’s participation in study committee hearings on the review of Tennessee’s certificate of need statute, a study on legislation to dramatically change the medical malpractice law and a discussion on bills permitting medical cannabis in Tennessee.

• Vanderbilt University and the Medical Center sponsored the national conference of the Council for State Governments held in Nashville Dec. 9-13. More than 800 attendees from across the nation participated. A special dinner honoring outgoing CSG chair and Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, was hosted by Vanderbilt. The conference concentrated on a diverse set of issues ranging from cyber-security, e-cigarettes, prescription drug abuse to public and private partnerships in economic development initiatives.

• OSGR has launched a Facebook page as a further promotional tool to tell the Vanderbilt story to our friends in state government. Follow us here.

Contact: Nathan Green

Strategic Marketing

• Thousands of Middle Tennesseans are sending “Words That Shine” to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt though the newly launched “Shine Bright” campaign. The Nashville Predators and CMA Award-winning duo Maddie & Tae joined forces Dec. 2 to launch the campaign, which shines a light on the patient heroes, their families and staff at Children’s Hospital. Alicia Moorehead and Christian Leeloy are leading the efforts, which center on letter-writing stations throughout the community.

• Maddie & Tae (pictured) spent the day at Children’s Hospital Dec. 2 filming a heart-warming video set to their empowering single “Fly,” which is featured in the campaign. The “Shine Bright” community engagement effort will continue to collect letters through the end of January, and other activities are planned for Winter Park in downtown Nashville where the Children’s Hospital logo is visible in the outdoor ice rink. Visit the website for a schedule of events and more details about how you can get involved.

• In early October, television viewers in Middle Tennessee began seeing new messages from Vanderbilt University Medical Center that build upon the “Promise of Discovery” theme to describe our work and mission. The messages go beyond the promise of personalized medicine for which VUMC has built a strong and unique reputation, telling the story of promises made and kept by every individual at Vanderbilt. The three messages — which reflect our core values of innovation, collaboration and personalization — are airing on broadcast television throughout Middle Tennessee as well as cable news, sports and lifestyle programming such as CNN, FOX, MSNBC, ESPN, HGTV and Food Network. Alicia Moorehead and Nina Mitchell were project managers.

• The new consumer health and wellness website MySouthernHealth launched in October with the goal of engaging residents of the Southeast before and between their specific needs for health care services. The content hub is powered by VUMC, features informational material written and sourced by a variety of Vanderbilt professionals, and is run by the Strategic Marketing department. Visitors to the website may subscribe to a weekday newsletter. My Southern Health is active on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mysouthernhealth, Twitter @southernhealth and mysouthernhealth on Instagram. For questions, contact managing editor Linda Zettler.

• Vanderbilt University Medical Center was honored for excellence in social media programs with two eHealthcare Leadership Awards at the 2015 Healthcare Internet Conference in Orlando in November. Vanderbilt Health also has been named one of the 25 most active hospitals on social media by MPH Today.

• The social media presence for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt won the platinum eHealthcare Leadership Award for best social networking at hospitals with 200 to 399 beds. Vanderbilt Health won the silver award for hospitals with more than 400 beds. Judges looked at digital engagement and content on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and other platforms. MPH Today also ranked VUMC as one of the most socially active hospitals in the country alongside Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins Hospital. Follow VUMC on Facebook at Vanderbilt Health and Children’s Hospital at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Follow VUMC on Twitter: @vumchealth and @VUMCchildren.

• VUMC has been invited as a charter member in a new national best-practices organization, SocialMedia.org/Health, which will launch with a member meeting hosted by VUMC in February. SocialMedia.org, a national best-practice network of senior social media leaders at large brands, is launching the organization for large health care organizations in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media. Cynthia Floyd Manley is also an external adviser to the Mayo Clinic Center.

• Assistant Director of Interactive Technologies Travis Waters and his wife, Whitney, welcomed their first child, a son. Gentry Louis Waters was born on Nov. 12. He already was rocking a hashtag in one of his first Christmas photos.

Contact: Linda Zettler

VUMC News and Communications

• After 10 years of service in the Medical Center Office of News and Communications, and one year directly reporting to the dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Kathy Rivers left the role as director of VUSN’s communications on Nov. 1 to serve in a newly created role of internal communications manager. The position reports to C. Wright Pinson, M.D., deputy vice chancellor of health affairs and CEO of the Vanderbilt Health System. In this new position, Kathy will employ her communications skills as a key part of a team working to strengthen organizational culture and improve employee engagement across the Medical Center.

• Jennifer Wetzel has been named media relations director for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and will work with news media on behalf of Children’s Hospital and its clinics. Jennifer joined the Medical Center News & Communications team in 2011 as a senior information officer and local news director for Vanderbilt’s adult hospital and clinics.

• Two longtime Vanderbilt employees: Bill Snyder, senior science writer in the Medical Center Office of News and Communications (13 years), and Yvonne Moneypenny, administrative officer in the Section of Surgical Sciences (25 years), married on Oct. 17 during a small ceremony in St. Augustine’s Chapel on the Vanderbilt campus. The bride, now Yvonne Snyder, was given away by her sons, Russ and Ben. Bill’s son, Kenny, was his best man. The happy couple (pictured) resides in Germantown.

Contact: Nancy Humphrey

University News and Communications

• A new Content Strategy and Project Management Team has been created, reporting to Beth Fox (pictured below, right center, with Lacy Paschal at left center). The new team includes Chris Craig, Jenny Mandeville and Anna Whinnery, and is responsible for social media strategy and campaigns, analytics support, digital storytelling, content strategy consulting and management of university web projects.

Web Communications was recently recognized as the “Greenest Group On Campus” in an annual competition sponsored by Waste Management Inc., Vanderbilt Athletics and the Vanderbilt Sustainability and Environmental Management Office. WebComm received this honor in part for efforts to reduce printing needs across campus, along with other sustainability efforts.



• University Web Communications launched a new website for the new Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Web Comm also worked to develop this year’s Early Decision I personalized websites. Admitted students receive a personalized website that reveals their admissions decision in a fun and engaging way. Check out the cool infographic (at right) Web Communications created about their work in 2015.

• Two Vanderbilt physicists authored three of the 10 most widely read articles in the science category of The Conversation, a website and daily newsletter of research-based pieces on current topics. These were a direct result of a News & Communications partnership with The Conversation. David Weintraub authored the No. 5 most popular and Robert Scherrer came in at 6 and 8. Peabody’s Ebony McGee’s piece on black professors’ being expected to entertain was among The Conversation’s top education articles. An op-ed by art historian Kevin Murphy on the renovation of the Eero-Saarinen-designed TWA terminal at JFK airport was included in the arts and culture wrap-up, and a piece by political scientist Cecilia Mo, titled Why Asian Americans don’t vote Republican, was the third most widely read politics and society item. It also ran on the Washington Post’s political blog, Monkey Cage, where it was the sixth most popular.

• WPLN included three Vanderbilt science stories in their “year in storytelling” roundup. Listen to the stories here.

• Jan Read convened a quarterly brainstorming, idea-swapping and content session at the end of October for the editors of all Vanderbilt magazines. VUMC and university peers swapped stories and tips and the brainstorming group also generated valuable ideas for future Vanderbilt Magazine issues. Jan also supported the Faculty Senate staff and Chair Richard Willis in the creation and launch of their newsletter, Engage.

• The team of Bonnie Ertelt, Seth Robertson, Phillip Tucker and Ryan Underwood produced another outstanding Vanderbilt Magazine issue. The fall 2015 cover story featured a planned community being established in Colorado, Sterling Ranch.

• The October print issue of MyVU featured 15 new faculty profiles by News and Communications writers from across the university and VUMC. Editor Kara Furlong worked with senior designer Deborah Brewington and Creative Services’ talented photo staff to produce the issue, including the shot by John Russell (pictured below) of Assistant Professor of Mathematics Anna Marie Bohmann.

The fall issue of Vanderbilt Business mailed just before Thanksgiving. Its cover story unveiled the business school’s new strategic plan. Editor Nancy Wise drew on the writing talents of Bonnie Ertelt, Kara Furlong, Jim Patterson and Ryan Underwood to make the content compelling and distinct.

• Joan Brasher has sent the winter issue of Peabody Reflector to the printer. Its in-depth, compelling cover story features professor Ebony McGee’s research on diversity in the STEM fields. Seth Robertson is working on the winter issue of Vanderbilt Law, and editorial for spring issues is underway.

• Another print piece completed and mailed was the School of Engineering’s Solutions 2015. The brochure/image piece was sent to other engineering schools’ deans and academic leaders in October—just in time to be at the top-of-mind when U.S. News & World Report ballots were in the field. This is the fourth year the Engineering communications office, Nancy Wise and Creative Services have produced the 48-page publication. It’s been called the best yet. We’ll say the same thing of the 2016 ReVU brochure, compiled by Phillip Tucker.

• Amy Wolf, Zack Eagles, Pat Slattery and Mike Todd created a music video re-mix of the Vanderbilt alma mater featuring bluegrass, Melodores and the Blair School of Music choir. The video is featured on the personal web page for students receiving early admission. The video will be going public in the spring with a social media campaign.

• Another major video project features activities of students and faculty in Latin America and has around 1,000 views. If you want to get inspired, watch now. The video was used by the Provost in a Board of Trust meeting and is on a number of Vanderbilt websites.

• The Vanderbilt Poll-Tennessee press conference on Dec. 4 received a great deal of coverage across the state. The team effort included a joint pitching campaign by Mike Todd and Jim Patterson, resulting in coverage on WKRN, WTVF, WZTV and NPR stations through the state with additional coverage by The Memphis Commercial-Appeal, The Houston Chronicle, The Chattanooga Times-Free Press, the Knoxville News-Sentinel, The Nashville Scene, The Latin Post, The Tennessean, The Columbia Daily-Herald, the Memphis Daily-News, the Associated Press and the Nashville Business Journal. Liz Entman prepared infographics that helped boost social media engagement, resulting in 833 Facebook engagements. Coverage of public attitudes toward an increase in the gas tax seemed to carry the day.

• Vanderbilt experts reached more than 40 million people using VUStar in December. Our experts did 11 interviews with 15 appearances on international/national TV and radio, including Russia Today TV, China Central TV, NBC Nightly News, ABS World News, CBS This Morning and NPR’s Marketplace.

  Contact(s): NewsComm, WebComm