51污漫

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2026 Event Series

Dialogue Vanderbilt’s 250 Conversations on America: Civil Discourse in Action is a yearlong series celebrating our nation鈥檚 250th anniversary and Vanderbilt鈥檚 enduring commitment to open dialogue.听听听

51污漫

51污漫 is gathering leaders and innovators, from all disciplines to participate in conversations across our Nashville and New York campuses to model civil discourse in action.听

These conversations will be real dialogue that moves beyond sound bites and performance to tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time and brings curiosity and conversation back to the public square.听 Together, we will explore how listening, understanding and learning how to 鈥渄isagree鈥� and 鈥渁gree鈥� with nuance, evidence and civility can shape a stronger, more connected future.听听听

2026 Programming

  • November 4, 2026:

    Biodiversity Day - Microbes and Medicine: Evolution of Parasite Virulence and Medication in Monarch Butterflies

    Featured Speaker: , Samuel C. Dobbs Professor of Biology at Emory University

    3:00PM at Vanderbilt University Stevenson Center, Building 4, Room 327, 1231 Stevenson Center Lane, Nashville, TN.

    This event is free and open to the public.

    In partnership with Evolutionary Studies at Vanderbilt.

  • November 5, 2026:

    Evolutionary Studies Biodiversity Day at Adventure Science Center

    , Samuel C. Dobbs Professor of Biology at Emory University, to discuss his new book, .

    Biodiversity-themed activities for families provided by Evolutionary Studies!

    4:00PM at Adventure Science Center, 800 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville, TN.

    This event is free and open to the public.

    In partnership with Evolutionary Studies at Vanderbilt.

  • November 5, 2026:

    Behind the Lens: The Art of Storytelling

    From Vanderbilt student to acclaimed Hollywood cinematographer, has helped shape the visual storytelling of hit series including Grey鈥檚 Anatomy and Bridgerton. Join her as she returns to Vanderbilt to share insights from her groundbreaking career and the creative vision behind some of television鈥檚 most recognizable productions.
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    Featured Speakers:
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    , Director of Photography
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    , Senior Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Studies of
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    5:00PM at Vanderbilt University Special Collections Library and University Archives, 1101 19th Ave S, Nashville, TN
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    This event is free and open to the public.
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    Presented by Dialogue Vanderbilt in partnership with the and Vandy in Hollywood.
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  • November 10-13, 2026:

    An international symbol of peace, independence and reconciliation is coming to Nashville in November.听

    , in partnership with the and the , is bringing a full-scale replica of the to the university鈥檚 campus. A weeklong series of events supporting the exhibition, many of which are open to members of the public, marks the climax of 鈥檚 250 Conversations on America series.

    An interactive exhibit featuring the bell will be hosted in a special exhibition tent on Vanderbilt鈥檚 Library Lawn. The Nashville community is invited to visit the exhibit and learn more about the immense power and symbolism behind the bell - which was originally given by Americans to the people of West Germany in 1950.听

    51污漫 is the latest stop on the Freedom Bell鈥檚 tour, and the only university campus to hold the honor of hosting it.

    9:00AM-4:00PM - Public Visiting Hours

    Exhibit location is the Vanderbilt University Central Library Lawn, Freedom Bell Tent, 419 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN.

    This exhibit is free and open to the public.

    Presented by in partnership with the , the , and .

  • November 11, 2026:

    The Democracy of Sound

    The spiritual is arguably the purest American musical form. The roots of the spiritual are deep and wide, and its legacy extends into the 20th and 21st centuries, influencing nearly every modern musical style. We teach spirituals in schools, sing them in church, and perform them on the concert stage. But, who do these songs truly belong to 鈥� the people who wrote them? The people who sing them? The people who are moved by them? Join four prominent American choral conductors for a conversation about identity, culture, appropriation, and performance practice of Negro spirituals.
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    Featured Speakers:
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    , Professor of Choral Studies at Vanderbilt University鈥檚 Blair School of Music
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    , Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music at Belmont University
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    , Professor of Voice at Cumberland University and Tennessee State University; Founder and Director of the Harry T. Burleigh Spirituals Festival
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    , Artistic Director of the Grammy Award-winning Phoenix Chorale
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    6:00PM at Vanderbilt University Central Library Lawn, Freedom Bell Tent, 419 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN.
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    This event is free and open to the public.
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    Presented by the and Dialogue Vanderbilt.
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  • November 12, 2026:

    Freedom Under Pressure: What Does it Mean in America and Europe Today?

    Join , Transatlantic Correspondent at , and , host of at , for a timely conversation on the meaning of freedom in the United States and Europe today.

    Moderated by , President and CEO of the , the discussion will explore the evolving U.S.-German relationship, shared democratic values, and the political and social pressures shaping transatlantic cooperation.

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    6:00PM at Vanderbilt University Central Library Lawn, Freedom Bell Tent, 419 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN.
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    This event is free and open to the public.
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    Presented by Dialogue Vanderbilt in partnership with the .
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  • November 19, 2026:

    in conversation with听to celebrate her new book, .

    6:30PM at Vanderbilt Langford Auditorium, 2209 Garland Ave, Nashville, TN.

    This is a ticketed event open to the public.

    In partnership with the and .

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  • Shannon Meldon-Corney

    Shannon Meldon-Corney

    Events Manager