Reunion

We are excited to welcome you back to Nashville for VUSN 2024 Reunion on November 7-10, 2024! The weekend is filled with so many occasions to celebrate.

Reunion registration is now open! Please click here or the button below to register. Here you will be able to register for VUSN events and main VU Reunion events.

We are also excited to announce that we are enriching how we celebrate Reunion by piloting programs that center around nursing specialties. As with all School of Nursing Reunion activities, all our alumni are welcome and encouraged to attend this new segment that will, over the next four years, pair two specialty groups together for a day of continuing education, networking and fun. This year, we’re focusing on mental health and family primary care to present: Collaborative Academic Practice Symposium: Achieving Health Equity – Integrating Mental Health and Primary Care (And don’t worry if those aren’t your areas of interest. We’ll soon announce a different specialty pair for 2025. Stay tuned!).

Overall Schedule

Thursday, November 7

TimeEvent
11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m
School of Nursing Quinq Luncheon with Dean Pam Jeffries

During this beloved annual School of Nursing tradition, join Dean Jeffries as we honor BSN and MSN Classes of 1974 and hear news from the School. All Quinqs are invited to attend this special event.

Godchaux Hall Living Room

Hosted by School of Nursing
5:00-7:00 p.m.Quinq Welcome Reception

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni
5:30-7:30 p.m.Julia Hereford Society Reception (by invitation only)

Members of VUSN’s donor society will gather to celebrate the success of the Dare to Grow campaign. Don’t be left out! Information about the Julia Hereford Society is available on our website. It’s not too late to join!

Graduate Hotel

Hosted by School of Nursing
6:00-9:00 p.m.Downtown Kick Off Party (SkyDeck @ Assembly Food Hall)

Availalbe for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

Friday, November 8

TimeEvent
8:00a.m. to 8:00p.m.

Reunion HQ

Available to all University Alumni

9:00a.m.

Morning University Campus Tours

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

9:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.

Collaborative Academic Practice Symposium: "Achieving Health Equity – Integrating Mental Health and Primary Care"

NEW continuing education credits for 2024! All School of Nursing alumni are welcome and encouraged to attend this new segment that will, over the next four years, pair two specialty groups together for a day of continuing education, networking and fun. This year, we're focusing on mental health and family/primary care CEUs and fellowship. 

School of Nursing Building Colleen Conway-Welch Atrium

Hosted by School of Nursing

Register Now

10:00 a.m.

Commodore Classroom #1: A Day in the Lab: Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

10:00 a.m.

Commodore
Classroom #2: Generative AI Will Transform Computing and All Industries

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

11:00 a.m.

Conversation with University Leadership

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

12:00-2:00 p.m.

Homecoming Block Party

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

2:00 p.m.

Afternoon
University Campus Tours

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

2:00 p.m.

Commodore
Classroom #3: Election 2024 with panelists John Greer, Nicole Hemmer, Josh Clinton

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

2:00-4:00 p.m.

Greek
Open Houses

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

3:15-4:00 p.m.

School of Nursing Welcome Reception

Connect with friends over light hors d'oeuvres and drinks as the day's activities segue into an evening of excitement at VUSN.

School of Nursing Building Colleen Conway-Welch Atrium 

Hosted by School of Nursing

4:00-5:00 p.m.

School of Nursing Annual Alumni Awards Ceremony featuring Dean Jeffries' State of the School
Address (includes virtual option for remote viewing)

Join Dean Jeffries and the VUSN Alumni Board to celebrate and recognize seven alumni and one friend,
for their notable contributions to the nursing field and health care. The Dean will share updates from the school in her annual address to alumni.

Frist Hall 140

Hosted by School of Nursing

5:00-7:00 p.m.

School of Nursing Sim Lab Expo, MIND Lab Demo and alumni receptions (with breakouts for psych
and family/primary care alumni and friends)

It's Reunion! Have you been to VUSN to see our new building and Simulation and MIND Labs? Have you met Dean Jeffries? Recently caught up with friends and classmates? Join us for live music, heavy appetizers, drinks and fun, while exploring new state-of-the art classroom technology and celebrating our award recipients. You won't want to miss this!

School of Nursing Building Colleen Conway-Welch Atrium 

6:00 p.m.

Volunteer Recognition Toast

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

6:30 p.m

Quinq Dinner Highlighting the 55th and 60th Reunions

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

6:30 p.m

Class
Party for the 50th Reunion

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

7:00 p.m.

Class
Parties for the 5th to 45th Reunions

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

Saturday, November 9

TimeEvent
10:00 a.mCommodore Classroom #4: Aging and the Brain: A Natural Part of Life
Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni
12:30 - 2:30 p.m.School of Nursing Homecoming Tailgate

Dean Jeffries, the Nursing Graduate Council and Alumni Board co-host this opportunity to drop by and visit with friends, faculty/staff and students on your way to watch Vandy take on the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Lot 73

Hosted by School of Nursing
2:30 p.m. kickoffVanderbilt vs. South Carolina Gamecocks @ FirstBank Stadium. Game time released two weeks prior.

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

Sunday, November 10

Time Event
9:00 a.m.

50th Reunion Commodore Classroom

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

10:00 a.m.

Quinq Brunch and 50th Reunion Induction

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

10:00 a.m.

Bluegrass Brunch and Market

Available for all Vanderbilt University Alumni

Collaborative Academic Practice Symposium: Achieving Health Equity – Integrating Mental Health and Primary Care*

  • 9:30 am – Registration and Continental breakfast
  • 10:00-10:50 am – Effective Treatments for Difficult to Treat Depression, Virginia Gardner, MSN’05, PMHNP-BC, Instructor
  • 11:00-11:50 am – Navigating Metabolic Risks: A Crucial Consideration in Psychotropic Pharmacotherapy, Angel Anthamatten, DNP, MSN’00, FNP-BC, Assistant Professor, and Queen Henry-Okafor, PhD, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, Assistant Professor
  • 12:00-12:50 pm – Lunch provided
  • 1:00-1:50 pm – Navigating the Perinatal Mental Health Landscape: Empowering Expectant and New Parents, Hannah Cole McGrew, PMC’21, MSN’20, CNM, FNP-C, Instructor
  • 2:00-2:50 pm – Eating Disorders and Weight: What's the Relation? Mary Carter-Orbke, DNP, MSN’08, PMHNP-BC, Instructor
  • 2:50-3:15 pm – closing remarks; please stay on campus for networking receptions

Registration of $75 ($50 for students) includes Continental breakfast, lunch, four CEU sessions, and networking receptions

*Symposium is presented by the Collaborative Academic Practice (CAP) Program at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing as part of the 2024 Vanderbilt University Reunion. This presentation is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $650,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov. A moderate fee will be collected from Symposium registrants not affiliated with the grant.

While all School of Nursing alumni are encouraged to attend the Symposium and related networking activities, it will be of special interest to alumni with these specialties: Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, Adult Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Adult Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, Child & Adolescent Psychiatric-Mental Nursing, Clinical Nurse Specialist/Adult, Community & Family Health Nursing, Family Nurse Clinician, Family Nurse Practitioner, Gerontological Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, Mental Health Nurse Clinician, Oncology Nursing, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Clinician, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Lifespan, and Psychology

Give Back

Reunion is a time to celebrate, reminisce and connect with fellow alumni. When you participate in Reunion giving, you’re adding to the legacy of generations of Vanderbilt School of Nursing alumni. Gifts of all sizes help ensure that today’s students are able to continue pushing the VUSN status to greater heights. Your gift will help VUSN reach our Reunion fundraising goal of 200 donors and $200,000.

You can designate your Reunion gift to any area of VUSN. For Reunion 2024, a gift or multi-year pledge made to any area of VUSN during the Reunion timeframe of 7/1/2023 – 12/31/2024 will count towards our VUSN Reunion Goals. For our Quinqs and Classes of 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, planned gifts also count.

For other ways to give back to VUSN including planned gifts, stocks and securities, and electronic bank drafts visit the Giving page.

Current Giving

  • Current Donor Count  - 139 donors
  • Donor Goal - 200 donors
  • Dollars Raised - $137,233

Thank you for your generous support of VUSN! We also recognize donors of $2,500 (or $1,000 for Vanderbilt graduates of the last decade) or more with membership in the Julia Hereford Society. You will also be invited to our annual JHS celebration event during Reunion Weekend! Learn more about JHS here!

Volunteer

Volunteers are integral to the success of Reunion. You know best how to rally your classmates to return to campus and how to ask them to join you in supporting VUSN. Volunteers are the front line in communications with Nursing alumni, and your personal connection makes a big difference. With your help, alumni will Come Back and Give Back. Thank you to all our VUSN Reunion volunteers for their leadership! If you are interested in joining your class’s Reunion volunteer committee, please email Anja Fairholm, Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship.

Overall Chair

Benjamin A. Smallheer, MSN ’04, PhD ’11

Class of 1974 Reunion Volunteers

Beth Colvin Huff, BSN ’74, MSN ’79
Melissa B. Paty, BSN ’73, MSN ’74

Class of 1979 Reunion Volunteers

Cheryl Smith Anderson, BSN ’79, DNP ’18
Randolph F. R. Rasch, MSN ’79

Class of 1984 Reunion Volunteer

Shelley S. Keller, BSN ’84

Class of 1989 Reunion VolunteerVelinda Youngner Block, MSN ’89
Class of 1994 Reunion VolunteerPlease email Anja Fairholm at anja.fairholm@vanderbilt.edu if you would like to serve as a Volunteer for your class!
Class of 1999 Reunion VolunteerMarcia E. Barnes, MSN ’99, DNP ’10
Class of 2004 Reunion VolunteerJoan Marie Jeannette, BSN ’83, MSN ’04, DNP ’23
Class of 2009 Reunion VolunteerJannyse LaNee Tapp, MSN ’09, DNP ’11
Class of 2014 Reunion Volunteers

Matthew Jay Martin, MSN ’12, DNP ’14
Ekomobong Ekerete Essien, BS ’10, MSN ’14

Class of 2019 Reunion Volunteer

Andrea Renee Goldstein, DNP ’19
Jolene Elizabeth Ramirez, DNP ’19
Brie E. LaJeret, MSN ’19

FNP Specialty Volunteers  

Jannyse Starks Tapp, MSN'09, DNP'11
Shannon Cole,  MSN'94

Questions about Volunteering? Contact Us

Registration

Check your email, social media and this page for updates about registration opening and other information.

If you have any questions, want to volunteer, make a class gift or need additional information, please reach out to Betsey Usher at betsey.usher@vanderbilt.edu or 615-322-4836 and Anja Fairholm at anja.fairholm@vanderbilt.edu or 615-343-1778.