Vanderbilt Peabody College

For many Latino families, accessing critical services for young adults with autism can mean overcoming language barriers, navigating complex systems, and facing repeated denials. Research shows that more than 75% of people with disabilities receive no services after high school, creating a significant gap in support.

With a new grant from the W.T. Grant Foundation, Vanderbilt Peabody College professor Meghan Burke is working to change that. Her research will explore a model that empowers Latino parents to become effective advocates for their children as they transition into adulthood.

➡️ Burke is a faculty member in Peabody’s Department of Special Education, home to one of the nation's top-ranked master's programs in the field. Read the full article to learn more about Burke's latest research and discover how our program is preparing leaders to make a difference:

W.T. Grant Foundation award aims to close autism services gap for Latino families By Jennifer Kiilerich Imagine applying to a support service that turns down 66 percent of first-time applicants. Then imagine navigating that—a process which can involve multiple attempts, forms, taking time off work for meetings, and more—in English when it may not be your first language. That ...

Hey everyone, it’s Peabody’s Social Media Interns! Our supervisor is out of the office, but here are some reasons we think you should apply for Peabody College’s online master’s programs…😎

Learn more about our online programs at the link in our bio!

Vanderbilt researchers are redefining how we understand the brain. In a groundbreaking study published in "Nature", teams at Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt Health created the first-ever lifespan growth charts for white matter — the brain’s communication “highways” — tracking development from birth to age 100.

By mapping 72 distinct white-matter pathways using nearly two decades of research, extensive MRI data, and advanced AI-powered computing, this work could transform how we detect and address brain health challenges earlier than ever before.

The study included contributions from Peabody professors Laurie Cutting, Sophia Vinci-Booher and Kate Humphreys. “This could help us identify differences linked to reading abilities and intervene before children struggle,” said Cutting, whose work centers on dyslexia and language disorders.

🔗 Read more about how Vanderbilt is shaping the future of neuroscience and learning:

Vanderbilt researchers develop comprehensive guide for how the brain’s wiring changes with age In a groundbreaking study published recently in the journal Nature, researchers at Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt Health have created the first growth charts for white matter in the brain over a human lifetime. The work brings together nearly two decades of Vanderbilt research collaborations,....

Vanderbilt Peabody College associate professor Nicole Joseph has been awarded the Mathematical Association of America’s prestigious Mary P. Dolciani Award, an honor that traditionally recognizes mathematicians, for her groundbreaking work at the intersection of race, gender, and math learning.

From creating innovative frameworks for inclusive math education to authoring "Making Black Girls Count in Math Education", Joseph’s work is transforming classrooms and empowering students nationwide.

🌟 Read more about her impactful career and this remarkable recognition: bit.ly/4xaO8PE

Vanderbilt Peabody College’s Nicole Joseph honored with major Mathematical Association of America award By Jennifer Kiilerich The prestigious Mathematical Association of America’s Mary P. Dolciani Award celebrates outstanding contributions in mathematics education and typically goes to mathematicians. But this year, Vanderbilt Peabody College scholar Nicole Joseph shifted the norm. An associate....

Coffee shops are more than just study spots in Nashville. They're part of the city's vibrant social culture, so Peabody master's student Julia Jamieson is here to "spill the beans" on her favorite local cafés!

Swipe to see her insights and the list of coffee shops she's working through trying before she graduates.☕️✨

Stay informed on the latest research and campus news at Peabody College by exploring our digital magazine, the Peabody Reflector. ��

Swipe to preview featured stories from our Spring 2026 edition, and read the full articles: bit.ly/3Nkxl6M

Governments, dealing with constrained budgets, are increasingly turning to public-private partnerships to deliver for the public interest. These partnerships are expanding the private sector’s influence over various domains, including AI infrastructure, social services, education, prisons and immigration detention facilities. According to Peabody College Professor Carolyn Heinrich, without a new approach to government contracts that prioritizes public value, these partnerships risk wasting public resources, harming communities and creating power imbalances that benefit the private sector over the public good.

In her new book, Contracting for Public Value, published by Oxford University Press, Heinrich and her co-authors reveal how traditional, formal government contracts can fail to deliver public value and how a new contract model, rooted in relationships, can succeed.

“With more at stake than ever for public well-being, we can’t afford to continue our outdated, business-as-usual approach to public contracting,” Heinrich said.

➡️ Read more:

From rigid legalese to relationships: a new model for public-private partnerships By Jenna Somers AI data centers seem to be cropping up everywhere, often in rural farming communities, where crops are grown, where livelihoods depend on their yield and where their yield depends on groundwater, the cost of energy and infrastructure, and the health of the environment. Increasingly,....

All admitted and prospective online master's students are invited to join us for our virtual Admitted Student Welcome and celebrate their admission to Peabody College!

This event is designed to give attendees a first look at the Peabody College student experience. Over the course of the evening participants will have the opportunity to meet faculty, connect with fellow admitted students, and learn more about Peabody's holistic supports.

The day will begin at 5:30 p.m. CDT and conclude at 7:00 p.m. CDT. You're welcome to join for some or all of the time.

� Register now! bit.ly/3RhKmU3

We’re excited to celebrate this year’s Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center award recipients!

Special congratulations to Professors Xiu Cravens and Brenda McKenzie who received the Mentoring Awards for exceptional commitment to guiding, empowering and elevating students and colleagues.

⭐ Read more about how Cravens and McKenzie are shaping the next generation of leaders:

Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center recognizes 2026 award recipients This spring, the Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center named six people in the Vanderbilt community as recipients of its annual awards.