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	Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021

Diermeier urges universities to lead America back toward reasoned debate in ‘USA Today’ opinion piece

A new “USA Today” op-ed written by Chancellor Daniel Diermeier urges top universities like Vanderbilt to take a leading role in restoring “reason, rationality and honesty” into the national dialogue.

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Return to Campus update for Feb. 17

Good numbers on Vanderbilt’s COVID-19 public dashboard, information about vaccination distribution in Tennessee, new CDC guidelines regarding best mask fit and more are featured in this week’s Return to Campus update.

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Winter weather remains in forecast; VU classes operating on schedule

The Nashville area is under a winter storm warning from 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, until 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18. All Vanderbilt University classes will be conducted on their normal schedule. The COVID-19 testing center at the David Williams II Recreation and Wellness Center is closed for Wednesday, Feb. 17, and decisions about testing for the remainder of the week are being made on a daily basis.

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School of Nursing mourns loss of Tom Christenbery, beloved professor and champion of compassion in nursing

Professor of Nursing Thomas Christenbery died unexpectedly in his sleep Feb. 16. In his two decades at Vanderbilt School of Nursing, the popular professor taught and mentored hundreds of students and colleagues, encouraging them to reach for new possibilities.

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Vanderbilt chemist wins Sloan Research Fellowship

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Steven D. Townsend, PhD’10, has been awarded a 2021 Sloan Research Fellowship, one of the highest honors for young scientists who have the potential to revolutionize their fields of study.

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Basic Sciences Dean’s Faculty Fellows program recognizes Neuert, Ren

Assistant Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Gregor Neuert and Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Yi Ren have been recognized as School of Medicine Basic Sciences Dean’s Faculty Fellows. Established in 2020, the Dean’s Faculty Fellows program in Basic Sciences is designed to recognize the efforts of faculty in the early stages of their career.

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SARS-CoV-2 protein blocks an essential step in host gene expression, new discovery finds

Vanderbilt biochemist Yi Ren is part of a team that has identified a new behavior of a SARS-CoV-2 protein and discovered that interfering with its function can block virus replication in host cells. This opens up the potential for new therapeutic targets for COVID-19.

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Peabody-led research report sheds light on impact of effective school leadership on student learning outcomes

A major new research review commissioned by The Wallace Foundation paints a detailed picture of how strong principals affect students’ educational and social outcomes. The report, co-authored by Professor Jason A. Grissom at Vanderbilt University, concludes that school leaders are even more important than previously believed and that investing in their success has a very large payoff.

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Despite limitations of pandemic, research continues in Arts and Science, Nursing

During the Research Ramp-up process, more than 3,000 Vanderbilt research personnel have returned to in-person research activities, while many others have continued remotely through perseverance and ingenuity. The efforts of the College of Arts and Science’s John Wikswo and the School of Nursing’s Terrah Akard are highlighted.

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Parking lot to close permanently for Owen construction project, future Walk and Roll Loop

Parking Lot 6B will close permanently on March 1 as a part of the Owen Graduate School of Management Capital Project. The closure is also in support of Vanderbilt’s FutureVU initiative to improve connectivity and enhance accessibility throughout campus while also achieving the university’s sustainability goals.

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‘From Person-first to Identity-first Language’ topic of virtual discussion today

A virtual town hall-style discussion about identity, language and race is set for Wednesday, Feb. 17, as part of Vanderbilt’s ongoing commemoration of Black History Month. “The Intersection of Identity Conversations in the Disabled Community: From Person-first to Identity-first Language” is scheduled from 3 to 4 p.m. CT and will be hosted by the Student Access office, Provost’s Office for Inclusive Excellence and the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center.

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Events centered on ‘The Black Trans Prayer Book’ set for Feb. 18–19

A two-day virtual event Feb. 18–19 hosted by the Vanderbilt community will feature the creators of “The Black Trans Prayer Book,” an interfaith collection of stories, poems, prayers, meditations and more about the experiences of Black trans and nonbinary people.

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Sixth annual Turner Family Center for Social Ventures Summit is Feb. 18–19

The sixth annual Turner Family Center for Social Ventures Summit will be held Feb. 18–19 and feature innovators and thought leaders from across the social impact sector, including keynote speaker the Rev. Becca Stevens, founder and president of Thistle Farms.

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Explorations in Research, networking event for faculty researchers and students, set for Feb. 23

The third annual Explorations in Research, an event designed to convene researchers from all disciplines to network with students and discover possible new collaborations, will be Tuesday, Feb. 23, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. CT.

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Feb 23: Vanderbilt experts on U.S., global politics discuss what led to Jan. 6 insurrection at U.S. Capitol

A panel of political science faculty will examine the social, legal and psychological causes and consequences of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol during a live virtual conversation hosted by The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

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‘This Moment in America’ panel Feb. 24: Insights for equity and inclusion in turbulent times

The Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion will host a panel of Vanderbilt faculty, staff and students to share their personal and professional views and experiences on issues that inform “This Moment in America.” The virtual discussion is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 1 p.m. CT and is open to the Vanderbilt community.

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Interest session for new Neurodiversity Employee Affinity Group is Feb. 25

A virtual event to discuss the formation of a Neurodiversity Employee Affinity Group is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 25, at 5 p.m. CT. The goal of the listening session is to gather input, ask questions and offer suggestions about how a Neurodiversity Employee Affinity Group at Vanderbilt can best serve this community.

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Sharfstein to give next Law School Dean’s Lecture on Race and Discrimination Feb. 25

Daniel J. Sharfstein, Dick and Martha Lansden Professor of Law and co-director of the George Barrett Social Justice Program, will deliver the next lecture in Vanderbilt Law School’s Dean’s Lecture Series on Race and Discrimination. The online event will be Thursday, Feb. 25, beginning at noon CT.

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Data Science Institute to offer series of virtual workshops

The Vanderbilt Data Science Institute is offering a series of online workshops to familiarize students, faculty and staff with data science tools. The workshops will be held on Wednesdays from February to April and are open to the entire Vanderbilt community.

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Plan ahead for updates to Oracle Cloud Feb. 19–20

A quarterly update of the Oracle Cloud environment is scheduled to begin on Friday, Feb. 19, at 9 p.m. and end on Saturday, Feb 20. Please plan ahead for this period when the system will be unavailable.

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Take Note

Women’s Center seeks nominations for 2021 awards

Nominate a staff member for a 2020–21 Diversity Leadership Award

Vanderbilt’s celebration of Black History Month continues

Vanderbilt Libraries offer series on evidence-based research and information sharing

Million of Conversations: ‘Exploring Truth and Reconciliation’ Feb. 18

Kids and neurodiversity topic of Parenting Group meeting Feb. 18

Virtual Game Day Experience for grades 6 and under is Feb. 20

Webinar series for faculty seeking federal research funding begins Feb. 23

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center: ‘Charting Four Decades of Changing Mental Disorders’ Feb. 25

Art of Healing Exposition seeks submissions through March 31

VINSE Spotlight Podcast: Christian Ornelas–building next-generation optoelectronic devices with 2D materials

Beware inquiries from university vendors regarding suspicious purchases

Programs for Talented Youth now accepting applications for virtual summer mentorship experiences for rising 9th-12th graders

USAC sponsors virtual food drive, increases goal to 20,000 meals

Form 1095-C now available online at My VU Benefits

Coming Up

· FEB ·

‘Tips for Dementia Caregivers’

· FEB ·

Library hosts GIS workshop Feb. 25–26

· FEB ·

Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative offers analytics boot camp

· FEB ·

Join Step for Your Heart Challenge; registration ends

· MAR ·

Inclusive Book Group to discuss Maya Angelou’s ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’

Follow Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt in the News

ABC News: How coronavirus vaccines will make their way from adults to children

Buddy Creech, associate professor of pediatrics, is quoted.

Healthline: Why it’s so easy to get a flu shot but difficult to get a COVID-19 vaccine

William Schaffner, professor of health policy and professor of medicine, is quoted.

Radio Prague International: Antonín Dvořák’s ‘New World Symphony’—an ‘American’ anthem that delighted, divided a nation

Douglas Shadle, associate professor of musicology, is interviewed regarding the topic of his new book, Antonín Dvořák’s New World Symphony.

The Lewistown (PA) Sentinel: Spiritually remote: Pandemic affecting already declining church attendance

James Hudnut-Beumler, Anne Potter Wilson Distinguished Professor of American Religious History, is quoted.

The Tennessean: Ashland City author, Vanderbilt University lecturer tackles mental health in new book

Allison Hilburn, senior lecturer in biological sciences, is interviewed regarding her book, Logic Strays: My Quest to Wrangle Torment.

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myVU provides top news and information each week for faculty, staff, and students of Vanderbilt University and is published by the Division of Communications.
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