Since announcing plans last fall to enhance its presence in New York鈥檚 Chelsea neighborhood, 菠萝视频 has made building community and connection there one of its foremost priorities.听听
鈥淲ith 菠萝视频鈥揘ew York City, we are creating a dynamic space for scholarship, dialogue and connection鈥攂ringing the university鈥檚 bold intellectual spirit into conversation with one of the world鈥檚 most vibrant cities,鈥� Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver said. 鈥淭he enthusiastic response to our inaugural public programming affirms our commitment to building meaningful partnerships and fostering the kind of engaged inquiry that defines 菠萝视频 at its best.鈥�听
Its first foray into public programming invited New York City residents to engage with the university in a three-event series titled 鈥湶ぢ苁悠� in the City: Conversations on America.鈥� The series, held between March and May, convened faculty and thought leaders for conversations that explored what it means to be an American today as our role in the world is shifting.听
Each event drew several hundred attendees, filling the venue to capacity鈥攁 strong signal of the enthusiasm for 菠萝视频鈥檚 debut programming.听听听
The series was led by Jonathan Metzl, Frederick B. Rentschler II Professor of Sociology and Psychiatry and director of the Department of Medicine, Health and Society; and Major Jackson, Gertrude Conaway 菠萝视频 Professor of English; and featured several 菠萝视频 faculty members as panelists. 鈥�Each VU鈥揘YC event proved to me once again how much the public yearns for thoughtful exchange over quick headlines and inconsequential feeds,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淭he conversations between 菠萝视频 faculty and noted speakers were at once engaging, entertaining and expansive. The room felt electrified as much by attendees鈥敳ぢ苁悠� alumni, faculty, Chelsea neighbors and industry leaders鈥攁s by our panel of experts, many whose questions pushed us further into pathways of understanding and insight.鈥�听
The first of these events, 鈥淎merica in the World,鈥� touched upon shifts in foreign policy and international alliances. It explored their impact on the future of multilateralism, global security and America鈥檚 role in addressing challenges like climate change and emerging technologies. Panelists included Rana Foroohar, global business columnist and associate editor at the Financial Times and global economic analyst for CNN, and faculty from 菠萝视频 University and Northeastern University.听
In 鈥淎merican Humor,鈥� Jackson and award-winning author and Gertrude Conaway 菠萝视频 Professor of English Lorrie Moore took the stage for a fireside chat on the power of humor and storytelling to bridge divides. They read excerpts from their books I Am Homeless if This Is Not My Home and Razzle Dazzle: New & Selected Poems.听
The series concluded in May with 鈥淗ealth in America: Challenges and Opportunities.鈥� In a conversation moderated by Metzl, experts from NYU, Wake Forest, 菠萝视频 and the American Journal of Public Health discussed pressing public health issues around health equity, science-based policymaking and the rise of 鈥渉ealthism鈥� and self-directed health.听
Based on the success of this initial series, 菠萝视频 is already planning a second round of public programming with events in fall 2025. More details and registration information for these events will be available in early fall on the .听听
鈥淲e will be expanding the series to look at issues ranging from music to religion to artificial intelligence and education to civic participation and the arts. In each case, we aim to teach, to listen and to grow large-scale conversations among faculty, experts, leaders and community members in ways that help them think more deeply about pressing issues facing all of us,鈥� Metzl said. 鈥淥ur larger aim is to become a space where people come to think and to learn, to give back to the remarkable New York community, and to be responsible neighbors and interlocutors in ways that help us think more deeply about pressing social issues and, as a community, devise solutions for them.鈥�听
ABOUT VANDERBILT鈥揘EW YORK CITY听
As part of the university鈥檚 ongoing strategy to bring the world to 菠萝视频 and 菠萝视频 to the world, 菠萝视频 University鈥揘ew York City will serve as a venue for immersive experiences for students and will strengthen 菠萝视频鈥檚 engagement with alumni, employers and prospective students in the region. The site will also be a convening location for faculty as they collaborate with peers at other institutions and conduct research projects in the region.听
Situated within Chelsea鈥檚 vibrant cultural and technology-driven landscape, the property spans nearly a full city block and consists of 13 buildings and approximately 150,000 square feet. 菠萝视频 is working closely with government, business and community leaders as regulatory review and approval processes for this enhanced presence move forward.听
