“Everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned the hard way,” laughs Hassan Sharaff, BE’07, gesturing to, well, everything: the polyethylene greenhouse walls with a soaring aluminum frame, torqued by last year’s derecho winds, and tray after tray of arugula, basil, kale and lettuce shoots, drinking in diffuse winter sunlight, tropical humidity and ever-flowing water.

“Water is fascinating. We still understand so little about it,” says Sharaff, the owner of HydroHouse Farms, a commercial hydroponics business in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, that supplies leafy greens to many restaurants and businesses in Nashville—including Vanderbilt Campus Dining. He’s a man with many interests. As a boy growing up in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and New York, Sharaff loved car engines, airplanes and spaceships. At Vanderbilt, he studied mechanical engineering. Then he headed home to New York to start a career in finance—following in his dad’s professional footsteps.

For a decade, Sharaff worked in the finance, nonprofit and hospitality industries, struggling to find a calling. After college, he’d prioritized making money. But as he got older, his values began to shift. “I wanted to make a positive contribution to society,” he says. “I believed in kindness and philanthropy, things my parents instilled in me.”

A hydroponic farming enterprise ticked all the boxes of what he considered a calling: “Provide a valuable service, work on my feet, make a decent income and be proud of what I’m doing,” he says. Ten years after graduation, Sharaff, who’d never sowed a seed before, built a greenhouse with his dad in his parents’ backyard in suburban New York. He launched a mini hydroponic operation there to experiment with horticulture while he plotted his agribusiness venture. Location was a problem: He needed to plant himself on fertile ground near a city full of chefs who wanted quality produce, but where real estate prices weren’t sky high. New York was a non-starter. Portland, Oregon, didn’t feel right.

In early 2016, Sharaff flew to Nashville, his first trip back since college. He found a thriving culinary scene and affordable land east of the city. That September he closed on 17 acres in Mount Juliet, and he launched operations in May 2017. His business has survived hard-won lessons from nature and the marketplace. He shares a few of these here for prospective farmers—or for anyone who dreams of “providing more than you’ve taken” from the world.

Hassan’s (hard-earned) tips for success:

1. Dig into the science.

Before sowing the first crop, Hassan studied root growth, planting mediums (such as perlite and rockwool), nutrients, environment and water. He researched the nutrient film technique hydroponics system, which pumps a nutrient and water solution through grow trays. The rest was trial and error—adjusting temperature, humidity, water solution pH and other inputs—and watching how plants responded. “Get some seeds, choose a medium and dive into it,” he advises.

2. Decide what to grow.

Adapt your crop to the hydroponic system you choose. The NFT system works well for leafy greens but not for tomatoes. Consider the business side: growth speed and shelf life will affect your bottom line. And be sure you’re growing produce your market actually wants. “Restaurants buy lots of lettuce,” Sharaff says.

3. Think like an engineer.

To keep his operation running, Sharaff had to learn electrical wiring, plumbing, carpentry and mechanics. “If a fan breaks or a pump fails, I’ve got to be able to fix it,” he says. His engineering background prepared him to work hands-on and to break problems into smaller components and attack them one by one “instead of feeling overwhelmed,” he says.

4. Build a team.

Be self-sustaining, but don’t be afraid to ask for help. Sharaff learned quickly that he couldn’t do everything on his own. He now has a go-to “MacGyver” buddy, who can fix what he can’t, and a team of collaborators with expertise in everything from construction to branding. “Work hard, appreciate talent and be grateful,” Sharaff says. “The best people will gravitate to you.”

TEXT BY KIM GREEN

The trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd has ended and the verdict released. We grieve for the family of Mr. Floyd, whose death marked yet another tragic milestone in a series of violent acts suffered by Black people in this country.  We grieve for the many other families for whom this tragedy, and the others before it and since, serves as a reminder of their experiences and what they have lost.

The trial’s outcome highlights how for decades, if not centuries, people of color have often been singled out, unfairly harassed or arrested, attacked and, in the most extreme cases, killed by police.

In our position as a leading research university focused on learning and discovery, the Vanderbilt community cannot look away from heinous acts such as the murder of George Floyd. We must harness our expertise, our pursuit of truth and evidence and our respect for humanity to foster greater understanding of how to work toward a more just future and to support actions that bring about positive change in society.

Moments like today provoke many strong emotions. We challenge you, and ourselves, to use that spark, that energy, to commit to the next steps needed. This is a time for deep reflection and discussion and to identify solutions against racial injustice.

We are committed to providing an affirming space for those who wish to process or have meaningful discussion about the trial’s outcome and what it represents. The University Counseling Center, Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center, Student Center for Social Justice and Identity and the Employee Assistance Program offer opportunities to safely engage. Please do not hesitate to visit with them in the coming days.

Sincerely,

Daniel Diermeier
Chancellor

Susan R. Wente
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Dr. André L. Churchwell
Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer

Joseph L. “Jack” May, a longtime Nashville businessman whose family owned the May Hosiery Mills, says his interest in printmaking originated in 1951 when he took a class on prints during his final semester at Yale College. It turned out to be the course that never ended. For more than 70 years, May has collected original prints by artists such as Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt van Rijn, Francisco Goya, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, Mary Cassatt, Pablo Picasso, Edward Hopper and Elizabeth Catlett. His collection spans work from the 15th century to the present.

The idea for a prints exhibit at Vanderbilt originated during a dinner conversation between May and David Price, professor of Jewish studies and professor of history of art. Price invited May and his wife, Lynn May, BA’60, MEd’82, to speak to the first incarnation of his History of Prints course.

May’s story about collecting prints resonated with the undergraduates, and he generously offered to make his collection available for their Immersion Vanderbilt projects and research papers.

Pressed for Time: Five Centuries of Prints from the May Collection, on view from January through the end of March at the Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery, was curated by Price and students Cainie Brown, Chloe Davis, Peter Stidman and Sarah Treadway, with assistance from their classmates in History of Prints. Meeting weekly throughout the summer and fall of 2020, the students often were joined by May, who was excited to inspire a new generation of collectors and connoisseurs of print art.

See the exhibit online at vu.edu/may-collection.

Vanderbilt is gearing up for Commencement ceremonies May 1–2 and May 15–16, and your help is needed to make the celebrations for graduates and their families a success. 

Volunteers have various opportunities to participate during the Class of 2020 undergraduate ceremony on Saturday, May 1, and graduate and professional ceremonies on Sunday, May 2. Additionally, volunteers are needed during the Class of 2021 undergraduate ceremony on Saturday, May 15, and graduate and professional ceremonies on Saturday, May 15, and Sunday, May 16. 

Commencement is designed to be a memorable day for graduates and their families. Graduates, guests and volunteers are required to follow the university’s health and safety protocols during Commencement ceremonies.  

Volunteers for Commencement Day will receive the following: 

• Snacks and drinks 
• A gift for volunteering 
• A great opportunity to network with others from across campus 
• A vital role in one of the university’s largest and most prestigious events 

To sign up to volunteer, visit the Cervis website. 

Contact: The Commencement Team
signatureevents@vanderbilt.edu  

The choice of where to live is a major economic and social decision and includes factors such as labor markets, schools, housing costs and access to amenities. In 2020, new research shows, a new factor made a prominent appearance: the COVID-19 pandemic. But the way it showed up might not be what you’d expect.

The researchers, Peter Haslag from Vanderbilt University and Daniel Weagley from Georgia Institute of Technology, examined four years of proprietary move-level data on more than 300,000 inter-state moves within the United States to determine how and why the nature of relocation decisions have changed since the onset of the pandemic.

The researchers found that a significant percentage of respondents were moving from larger cities to smaller cities with lower costs of living and less stringent COVID regulations. The researchers also found correlation between household income and reason for migration during the pandemic. “We found higher-income households are moving much less for changes necessitated from work (such as job loss or taking a new job) and much more for non-work-related reasons,” the researchers said. In contrast, lower income households typically moved for job-related reasons at a similar rate to pre-pandemic levels and were less likely to move for reasons such as retirement, health or lifestyle.

Why It Matters

The research provides insight into the impetus for inter-state moves and the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic impacted migration decision making. The patterns can be used by public health experts and policymakers to predict the impact of future health or environmental crises on migration decisions.

“What stood out to me was how little the infection rate in a city impacted the decision to move to or from there,” said Haslag, assistant professor of finance at Owen Graduate School of Management. “We found that it was other COVID-related factors, including regulations and the ability to work remotely, that had a greater impact on migration decisions.”

This shift in inter-state migration will have major implications for population-dependent issues such as city structures, tax bases, political biases and real estate markets. “By analyzing movement patterns during the pandemic, we can better understand the reasons that people of different income brackets move and make stronger predictions about the futures of identified cities and states,” Haslag said.

What’s Next

Haslag and Weagley are particularly interested in examining the long-term impact of remote work on the labor market. “The fact that we are seeing such a large reaction across states indicates that people are buying into the notion that remote work is here to stay,” Haslag said.

Moreover, they plan to study the impact of high income earners leaving cities with high taxes and regulations, such as New York and San Francisco, and moving to cities with less taxation and regulation, such as Austin, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee. “We expect that areas with high tax rates will suffer, at least in the short term,” said Haslag, though he believes that the increase in housing prices in cities with lower taxes will ultimately create an equilibrium effect.

Go Deeper

Researchers on the project include Peter Haslag, assistant professor of finance at Vanderbilt University, and Daniel Weagley, assistant professor of finance at Georgia Institute of Technology. The data for the project were provided by UniGroup. The research, “From L.A. to Boise: How Migration Has Changed During the COVID-19 Pandemic*” was published March 19, 2021.

The virtual gathering, hosted by the Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center in partnership with the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries, will take place from noon to 1 p.m. CT.

The Inclusive Book Group encourages Vanderbilt community members to read beyond their comfort zone and explore new authors and subjects.

To receive a free copy of Miller’s book, please complete this form. Books will be mailed to campus addresses only while supplies last.

The Inclusive Book Group welcomes all interested individuals. To participate, contact ACE@vanderbilt.edu for the Zoom link.

Vanderbilt’s Will Doyle has been named editor of Research in Higher Education, which publishes studies examining issues in postsecondary education. Doyle, professor of public policy and higher education at Vanderbilt, previously served as an associate editor of the journal. Joining the journal as new associate editors are Frim Ampaw of Central Michigan University, Marvin Titus of the University of Maryland and Lauren Schudde of the University of Texas–Austin.

“All of the associate editors are outstanding academics in their own right who have made substantial contributions to the field of higher education,” Doyle said. “I feel truly lucky to be working with such an outstanding editorial team—one which represents the diversity of the field in terms of their theoretical and empirical approaches to research.”

Research in Higher Education covers topics such as student access, retention and success; faculty issues; institutional assessment; higher education policy; and financing of postsecondary education. Although the journal considers all forms of scholarship for publication, it has been best known for its emphasis on quantitatively oriented studies.

At Vanderbilt, Doyle’s research includes evaluating the influence of higher education policy, the antecedents and outcomes of higher education policy at the state level, and the study of political behavior as it affects higher education. Before joining the faculty, he was senior policy analyst at the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. He received a master’s degree in political science and a doctorate in higher education administration from Stanford University. Doyle holds a primary appointment within the Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations at Peabody College of education and human development.

The overall policy and any time accrued by employees will not be affected. Employees will see the name change in policy documents and in Oracle. Staff members who request Grandfathered Sick Time off will now see Legacy Sick Time. Again, any employee hired prior to July 1, 2014, who currently has unused Legacy Sick Time will not lose any time.

HR is committed to creating an inclusive work culture that enables all employees to feel included and appreciated through words, policies and relationships.

For more information, please contact HR at human.resources@vanderbilt.edu.

Research Development and Support, a strategic and operational office within the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, is hosting a series of webinars this spring for faculty seeking research funding from federal sponsors. The webinars are aimed at helping faculty diversify and strategically identify potential federal sponsors, develop relationships with sponsors, and craft highly competitive proposals.

FINDING FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

Tuesday, April 27
11 a.m.–noon CT
Register here. >>

This session will cover resources to identify federal and foundation funding opportunities, strategies for connecting with sponsors, and will include a live demo of the SPIN funding database.

“Pandemic Parenting Check-in”

• Thursday, April 29
• Noon CT
• Zoom

Please RSVP in advance if you plan to attend.

In the midst of the ongoing public health crisis, we are witnessing an abhorrent wave of racism and violence in this country.

Since the murder of six women of Asian descent in Atlanta last month, as well as ongoing attacks against community members of Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage, we have been in close communication with Vanderbilt’s AAAPI community and are writing to update you about those discussions.

Attacks against community members of Asian descent are growing in number and intensity across the United States.

Racist acts and harassment toward the AAAPI community stand in stark contrast to Vanderbilt’s core values of equity, diversity and inclusion and will not be tolerated. As one community, we must stand united with our AAAPI community members against racism and discrimination.

In ongoing meetings with faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, students and staff from Vanderbilt’s AAAPI community, we are actively working on ways the university can more fully acknowledge, celebrate and support the AAAPI community while also educating others. We are exploring and planning initiatives in academics, programs and support services, and we will update the wider Vanderbilt community as these come to fruition.

We must provide a safe, inclusive and supportive environment in which a broadly diverse community can thrive. As we witness the painful attacks against the AAAPI community, we are reminded that we must redouble our efforts to provide support, to reflect on our own biases, to learn from each other and to do all of this in a compassionate and thoughtful manner that befits the Vanderbilt culture.

For those who have experienced incidents of racial bias or feel threatened amid the heightened tensions resulting from attacks against the AAAPI community, we encourage you to draw on Vanderbilt’s resources, including the Employee Assistance Program, the University Counseling Center, the Office of the University Chaplain and Religious Life and the Provost’s Office for Inclusive Excellence.

For those who wish to help their AAAPI friends and colleagues through this difficult period, we suggest the following:

• Support or join Vanderbilt’s Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander Employee Affinity Group, which is part of a new university initiative launched by the Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in partnership with Human Resources.
• Read, share and continue the conversation surrounding the annual Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Vanderbilt Report.
• Report incidents of bias against members of the AAAPI community at Vanderbilt.

Sincerely,

Daniel Diermeier
Chancellor

Susan R. Wente
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Dr. André L. Churchwell
Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer

The newsletter will provide an avenue for members of the Vanderbilt community to connect with the activities sponsored by both offices, as well as efforts from the university’s key partners in the equity, diversity and inclusion space, including important initiatives, lectures, programs and upcoming events. 

Those interested in subscribing to the newsletter may request to be added to the subscriber list by registering here. 

For more information on the university’s EDI efforts, visit the Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion website, and follow @inclusive_vandy on Instagram and Twitter. 

Due to a multitude of human-driven impacts, the Earth is experiencing a biodiversity crisis. It has been referred to as the Sixth Mass Extinction, and scientists are examining similar events in the planet’s geological past looking for clues in ancient ecosystems to help us solve present-day issues.

Current events have produced dramatic changes in the distribution of species, altering a region’s time-specific ecosystem known as a biota, says Simon Darroch, assistant professor of Earth and environmental sciences. Darroch hopes there will be evidence of previous biota changes in the fossil record, such as undisturbed rock sequences that can place notable events and species to appropriate time periods. Yet, the extent to which biogeographic patterns or the distribution of animals can be preserved in the fossil record is not well understood.

In working toward solving this mystery, Darroch and a team of paleontologists and geobiologists used computers to simulate “fossil” records with the present-day distribution of 340 species to try to recover existing biogeographical patterns under varying hypothetical extinction scenarios. Darroch and his colleagues found that they could recover many biogeographic patterns—such as the size and location of biodiversity hotspots—with surprising accuracy. Co-authors on the study were Danielle Fraser at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa and Michelle Casey at Towson University.

The study, “The preservation potential of terrestrial biogeographic patterns,” was published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B on Feb. 24. In studying the biotas under the simulations, the researchers accounted for numerous preservation biases, including the patchy distribution of fossil localities and the tendency for smaller animals to be less well-preserved in the fossil record. The latter was thought to represent an insurmountable barrier to reconstructing biogeographic patterns over extinction events because the majority of mammals tend to have small body sizes.

“Most ecologists are typically taught that small mammal fossils don’t preserve well because brittle skeletons get washed away,” Darroch said. However, he and his colleagues found that this can be compensated for by examining bird castings, specifically owl pellets. This matter is ideal for storing fossil records from tiny teeth to mammal skulls that otherwise go unobserved.

Overall, the research suggests the preservation potential of biogeographic patterns is surprisingly high. This means that fossil records are not only an invaluable archive for identifying species and events of the past, but they also present a vast library of ancient biogeography. The modeling shows that fossil records have the potential to tell scientists where biodiversity hotspots were during past biotic crises and to determine whether they are prone to moving or shrinking as the environment deteriorates. Reconstructing these changes may thus help scientists recognize which regions need protection as global ecosystems deteriorate.

“The project grew out of the pandemic,” Darroch said. “Without the ability to travel, we had to work out a new way to do cool science. Thus, numerical approaches like our computer simulation became more attractive. This is a novel approach, and the question of simulating fossil records with modern scenarios to see how well we can replicate the scenario is unusual. To the best of our knowledge, no one else is approaching the fossil record this way.”

The next step is prediction. Darroch and his team are working toward understanding how biodiversity hotspots will move with global warming and cooling. Further, they want to know, if there is a mass extinction, where it will be.

“I think this is justification for bringing paleontology into the fold of who gets to make decisions about conservation,” Darroch said.

While the approach is novel, Darroch and his team leveraged seminal research from paleontologist Kay Behrensmeyer to calculate the body mass of species and incorporated her foundational work on preservational biases into their study. “Dr. Behrensmeyer spent 30 years describing the processes that govern the transition from living organism, through death and decay and into the fossil record,” Darroch said. “We’re able to take her work from the 1970s and say, ‘This is just one crucial application we have for these data.’”

The funding for this project was provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada discovery grant RGPIN-2018-05305, as well as support from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research in Germany.

Read more:

• Darroch, Simon et al., “High preservation potential of paleogeographic range size distributions in deep time,” American Society of Naturalists, June 24, 2020
• Guarino, Ben, “Clinging on for grim death,” Washington Post, August 1, 2016
• Weisberger, Mindy, “Sack-Like Creatures Held Seafloor ‘Dinner Parties’ Half a Billion Years Ago,” Live Science, June 20, 2019

The first annual spring semester Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Fair is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 22, from 2 to 5 p.m. With the inception of Immersion Vanderbilt, a spring version of the fair provides students with an additional opportunity to showcase their projects. This event will be entirely virtual.

The fair will feature poster presentations of student research projects that are representative of a variety of fields and disciplines. The event will begin with opening remarks from Luis Leyva, assistant professor of mathematics education and director of the PRISM (Power, Resistance and Identity in STEM Education) Research Lab. Student researchers will present their work from 2:20 to 3 p.m. and from 4 to 4:40 p.m. In addition, participatns are welcome to attend the student organization panel breakout session from 3 to 4 p.m.

Students, faculty, staff and others who are interested in attending should register on the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Fair webpage to receive important event information, such as the schedule and links to the presentations and breakout sessions.

All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend the research fair.  The event is free and open to the public.

The Undergraduate Research Fair is sponsored by the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Summer Research Program, the Littlejohn Family, the Goldberg Family, the Office of the Provost, and the Office of Immersion Resources. It is made possible through the efforts and dedication of our faculty, staff and students.

Any questions about the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Fair should be directed to the Office of Immersion Resources.

Academic and well-being coaching

The Center for Student Wellbeing offers all undergraduate, graduate and professional students individual coaching sessions with a staff member to discuss a variety of topics. Through academic coaching, students can polish study skills and learn to manage their time in order to apply those skills effectively. Academic coaching can be beneficial not only to students who are experiencing academic difficulties, but also to anyone who wishes to enhance their academic effectiveness.

“Academic coaching is like academic therapy—sometimes it is cathartic to be able to vent frustrations about work or professors, and other times you may need someone to help you plan your week so that you can set goals and accomplish them in a feasible manner. Academic coaching has helped me combat my anxieties and manage a work-life balance as well as provided me with the skills to do so on my own,” an undergraduate student in the Class of 2024 said.

“I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to work with a coach at the CSW this past year. Coaching has helped me slow down and focus on what I want to change and accomplish and then to break it down further into manageable steps I need to do to achieve my goals,” said a professional school student in the Class of 2021. “Coaching through CSW, specifically, is so beneficial because it draws from the greater Vandy community. Hearing that I am not the only one who is experiencing certain challenges and learning possible ways forward from how other students have found success has normalized and encouraged me through some difficult times.”

In addition to academic coaching, the center supports students with managing their stress and anxiety due to academic issues.

“The coaching resources that the Center for Student Wellbeing offers have greatly benefitted my mental health and academic success over the past four years. I came to the CSW with fears about acclimating to college, managing stress and attending to my own physical and emotional well-being. I will graduate having gained a confidante and the tools to manage some of life’s chaos,” said a sociology major and gender and sexuality studies minor in the Class of 2021.

“Participating in well-being coaching at the Center for Student Wellbeing has guided me through any and all challenges I have faced while at Vanderbilt,” said a graduate student in child development and public policy, a member of the Class of 2023. “Having constant support and access to resources has helped me learn to cope better and to place emphasis on taking care of my physical, mental and emotional well-being.”

ADHD workshops

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition commonly associated with children; however, a number of students come to this diagnosis when faced with the novel challenges associated with college.

Common symptoms of ADHD include having difficulty initiating and sustaining effort on tasks, being easily distracted and other executive-function challenges. The Center for Student Wellbeing’s ADHD workshops can help.

“Being diagnosed with ADHD at 20 was very overwhelming—everything made sense and was completely new all at the same time,” said a human and organizational development, Spanish and business major in the Class of 2022. “Luckily, attending the ADHD workshops has helped me to gradually feel less overwhelmed.

“Through the workshops, I have learned so much more about what ADHD entails and helpful coping skills for living in a neurotypical world,” the student continued. “However, what I love most is finally having a group of people to talk and vent to that completely understands and relate to the way I experience the world.”

Vanderbilt Recovery Support

The Vanderbilt Recovery Support Collegiate Recovery Program provides caring and encouraging support services to assist students who are in recovery from substance use issues and who are working toward success in their academic, social, personal and professional lives.

“VRS has been an essential part of my recovery from addiction since returning to school last January,” said a student and participant of the program. “I’ve been able to meet like-minded people with similar problems, as well as similar goals, which has been helpful. But the most important factor is that these people have become some of my closest friends.”

Learn more about Vanderbilt’s recovery support services.

For more information on the Center for Student Wellbeing’s services and programming, visit the CSW website.

With a heart for serving others and an interest in the intersection of theology and social justice, Erica Johnson was drawn to pursue a master’s degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School while working at a social services center for victims and survivors of domestic violence.

During the organization’s monthly community meetings, Johnson noticed that the participants she admired most all had one thing in common: a degree from the Divinity School. 

As she completes a master’s degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School this spring, the Washington, D.C., native speaks fondly of her study of progressive theology. “Instead of arguing over who is allowed in the ‘kin-dom’, we focus on addressing issues through inclusion,” Johnson said. “There is a common agreement that we are all part of the family of God.” 

Johnson credits her Vanderbilt professors with guiding her through her studies while also providing space for her to explore her own passions and theological interests. She pursued two independent studies with Divinity School faculty and engaged in coursework in which she was able to select her own reading lists.   

Johnson said that her professors taught her to be more accountable and aware in her writing. They encouraged her to “name and claim” her unique identity and perspective while remaining cognizant of the audience she is writing for and the action she wants them to take. “Divinity School faculty have shaped me in ways that both demand that I use my voice, but also showed me that I can and should do this work,” she said. 

Challenging the status quo

“We recognize that the world is not as it should be. This spurs a theological imagination and a tenacious spirit.”

Johnson is inspired daily by her classmates. She described a collective “orneriness” among Divinity School students that encourages them to challenge the status quo. “We recognize that the world is not as it should be,” she said. “This spurs a theological imagination and a tenacious spirit.”  

Beyond the classroom, Johnson had the opportunity to volunteer weekly and lead a community Bible study. “We are called through this work to serve others with open hands,” she said.   

Johnson graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in 2015, triple-majoring in child development at Peabody College of education and human development, in African American and diaspora studies, and in medicine, health, and society through the College of Arts and Science. She plans to pursue a doctorate in religion from Vanderbilt Divinity School to continue her study of sociopolitical issues through a theological lens.

Johnson said that the Divinity School has and will continue to shape the ways she asks questions and responds to injustice. “Sometimes we’re called to speak. Sometimes we’re called to serve. And sometimes we’re called to just show up,” she said.   

This profile is part of a series of stories and videos highlighting undergraduate and graduate students in the Class of 2021.

• Learn more about Vanderbilt Divinity School.

Leaves of Grass 2012-2021. 2021. comes to Fisk as part of public arts programming created by the Engine for Art, Democracy and Justice, a trans-institutional initiative founded by Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Art at Vanderbilt University.

The Engine for Art, Democracy and Justice was launched last fall by Vanderbilt and Fisk universities, the Frist Art Museum and Millions of Conversations to offer a series of artistic collaborations and virtual conversations focused on healing at a time of significant social unrest.

Part of Mahama’s influential Occupation Series, Leaves of Grass 2012-2021. 2021. is being created from jute sacks initially collected by Mahama from Ghanaian markets and then sewn and resewn together on their paths to new artistic interventions.

The sacks, manufactured in Southeast Asia and shipped to Ghana, are used for the export of cocoa beans, coffee and other raw goods. As Campos-Pons notes, these daily travels embed these humble objects in ongoing histories of global trade and labor.

“As they travel through these economic networks, the sacks become testaments to both the breadth of capitalist exploitation and the lived experience of the workers who function within this global system,” Campos-Pons said. “The works in Mahama’s Occupation Series use these sacks to radically alter a selected urban landscape. The sacks are sewn together through the collective labor of community members to form giant sheets of jute, and then used to fully cover public buildings—from markets to museums to railway stations.”

Fisk University’s Little Theatre is the site of Leaves of Grass 2012-2021. 2021. because of its powerful historical significance.

“The Little Theatre is the oldest building on Fisk University’s campus,” said Jamaal Sheats, director and curator of galleries and assistant professor of art at Fisk University. “It was originally constructed as Civil War army barracks and, six months after the war, transformed into the Fisk Free Colored School. Hundreds of newly freed enslaved peoples traveled hundreds of miles here in the pursuit of education.

“Today this building continues to serve as a classroom and a theatre that seats 90. This installation merges complex histories in the American and Global South(s) of exploitation and of resilience, through art in the quest for democracy and justice.”

To view the installation, please schedule an appointment with Fisk University’s Carl Van Vechten Art Gallery or call 615-329-8720.

Walk-ins are also accepted, but, due to COVID-19 protocols, visitors must check in at the Van Vechten Gallery before viewing the installation.

“Living in Common in the Precarious South(s),” the EADJ’s current academic year program, is curated by Marina Fokidis. Visit the EADJ website for more information.