At Vanderbilt, creating an environment where every individual feels valued and empowered to grow is at the core of who we are. We are intentional about supporting and challenging students to make a positive impact in our ever-changing world by building community and sharing varied viewpoints, experiences and skills.
Meet four students from the Class of 2025 who have enhanced the university on and off campus by creating a true sense of belonging for others.
MALCOLM TRAVIS BROWN, A CALLING OF COMPASSION
In the heart of Malcolm Travis Brown, the seeds of connection are sown through active compassion and support for others-often in their toughest times. These traits are the hallmarks of the calling that led him to Vanderbilt Divinity School and chaplaincy.
"I was working in corporate America in Indianapolis, Indiana, and felt God calling me into chaplaincy. It was a pretty stark pivot from what I was doing. I didn't have any ministry experience, and I was going to church but never thought about a career there. Then I listened to God and applied to Vanderbilt and everything fell into place," Brown said.
Throughout divinity school, Brown learned to "be comfortable being uncomfortable," which has helped him create a safe atmosphere in the chaplaincy work he does with young soccer players at Nashville SC Academy and with patients and families in Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital.
"My capacity to be in situations where I might be experiencing some discomfort, but to use that to feel a groundedness and a centeredness to dig in and help people, has been cultivated quite a bit," he said.
OFFERING COMPASSION TO OTHERS
For some people, interacting with a chaplain may be the first time they encounter a person of faith focused directly on providing personal support. Brown said he met chaplains during his time in the Army National Guard and then as an undergraduate.
"To me, chaplaincy takes the idea of ministry outside the walls of a worship space, and it's about meeting people in that moment of life where they could really use someone to walk with them," he said. "I spend a lot of time listening. It's spiritual care."
FAVORITE FELLOWSHIP
Brown found his favorite fellowship when he least expected it. He met his wife right when he was transitioning from his corporate job to Vanderbilt. During a layover at his parents' house, they set him up on a blind date.
"I was about to quit my job and move to Nashville, and it seemed to be probably the worst time that I could meet somebody, but God had a different idea," he said, laughing. "Over the course of my degree program, we got married, and now we have a son."
Brown said another great source of community during his time at Vanderbilt has been the Vanderbilt Black Seminarians group, as well as his interactions in classes that he took with Vanderbilt medical students and with prison inmates at the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center.
"Each semester feels like its own touchstone, its own part of the journey. And each set of classes has been so unique," Brown said. "But even now, as I look back, I can see the thread of purpose that was woven throughout each of them."
Purpose that his professors know will guide his life after graduation.
"In my 30-plus years of teaching at Vanderbilt Divinity School, I have been on the lookout for those one or two students who impressed me by their rigorous attention to thinking through arguments, ethical issues and demonstrated humility and respect for other students and their opinions. Malcolm is the student I've been in search of," said Victor Anderson, professor of ethics and society, who holds the Oberlin Theological School Chair.
"He demonstrates genuine, empathetic listening and shows a contagious sense of humor. I regard him as exemplary of the well-rounded student."
SARAH MARVIN, COMPASSIONATE ALLY
For Sarah Marvin, family bonding time with her parents and five siblings has often included heaving a ball made of solid iron in the backyard of their rural Michigan home. Today, Marvin's fierce tenacity in the throwing ring for the Commodores track and field team is balanced, like the best shot put spin, with her ability to create sincere connection among fellow students.
"To me belonging is about building community, and I have definitely found that within Vanderbilt Athletics and in other parts of campus," said Marvin, a medicine, health and society major.
Soon after transferring to Vanderbilt, she created a special group to build connection and understanding.
"I founded an Athlete Ally chapter here at Vanderbilt in 2022, and it's near and dear to my heart," Marvin said. "Our campus mission for Vanderbilt Athlete Ally is to increase support for all student-athletes, no matter who they are or how they identify, and come together to educate, uplift and really create a safe and welcoming space for all athletes."
Helping encourage healthy mindsets for fellow students to support each other also led Marvin to co-chair the mental health and social impact committees within the Vanderbilt Student-Athlete Advisory Council.
LEADERSHIP REDEFINED
Marvin's first visit to Vanderbilt set the stage for authentic connections thanks to the athletics leadership team.
"It was my dream of an athletic department to see so many strong women representing Vanderbilt athletics. The little kid in me lit up," Marvin said, laughing. "To see Dr. Lee so dedicated to all of her athletes, no matter what sport they do, and then how she builds personal connection. I think this is absolutely one of a kind."
CAREER OF CARING
The athletics staff also helped Marvin craft an academic game plan to advance her dream of being a doctor. Marvin recently earned a spot in the biomedical sciences program and will work toward a master's degree, then apply to medical school.
She believes medicine is an avenue to extend her compassion for others.
"I am somebody who aspires to provide care by leading with empathy and trying to put myself in my patients' shoes, and so many of my medicine, health and society classes help prepare me to be the type of doctor I want to be," she said.
Marvin embodies this attitude of active compassion in everything she does, and her teammates and coaches have recognized it since day one.
"Sarah is someone who is not only well-rounded and heavily invested in her growth, but most importantly the growth of people around her," Thomas said. "Sarah represents the Vanderbilt vision of Crescere aude well. She dares to grow every day, and her spirit is contagious among the team.
"When Sarah leads, our team follows. She is a true student-athlete and a true representation of Vanderbilt."
DUAA FAQUIH, BUILDING CONNECTION ACROSS CULTURES
When political science and psychology double major Duaa Faquih sees a pile of shoes lined up outside a cozy building in the heart of campus, she sees an opportunity for community that springs from her dedication to her faith.
"My strongest sense of belonging is in a little building called the Annex, behind the Center for Spiritual and Religious Life, that we turned into a prayer space. I feel like the Annex is the cornerstone of my college experience," Faquih said. "I walk in, and I'm embraced by my people."
For Faquih, who has bounced back and forth between Saudi Arabia and Houston, Texas, her whole life, this type of connection is precious.
"To me, Vanderbilt feels like home because of the people," she said. "I feel grounded and empowered to be myself."
FOCUS ON SERVICE
Her desire to build bridges across backgrounds has propelled her to focus many of her activities on helping others feel the same sense of empowerment she feels.
As a leader in the Vanderbilt Muslim Student Association, she's led outreach programs to visit mosques around Nashville and Middle Tennessee. And she helps cultivate connections among students to learn about each other's backgrounds and traditions.
"We jokingly call ourselves the United Nations within my roommates because I'm Arab, then we have a Kurdish girl, a Pakistani girl and an Indian," she said.
COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR GOOD
Her desire to bring people together to work toward a peaceful world has inspired her work with the Research on Conflict and Collective Action Lab, where she's been working since she first came to Vanderbilt.
"One of my favorite ROCCA Lab teams was the Reducing Prejudice Toward Refugees team," she said. "Since the lab functions on what's really happening in the world, it's cool to be doing such relevant work."
Beyond Vanderbilt, her greatest passion is in empowering women. She volunteers with Asians Against Domestic Abuse, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting women experiencing domestic abuse. Faquih recalls leading a storytelling project and helping amplify the voices of women by telling their stories of empowered survival. Her ultimate aspiration is to open a domestic abuse shelter for Muslim women.
INSPIRING OTHERS
Faquih's enthusiasm for building connections has made her not only an advocate, but an inspiration to all who interact with her.
"Duaa is deeply passionate about public service, and she has shown dedication in creating more inclusive spaces on campus and investing time and energy to her communities at Vanderbilt," said Tiffiny Tung, vice provost for undergraduate education. "Her commitment to supporting vulnerable populations ensures that her career will have a lasting impact, regardless of the field she ends up pursuing."
Hear more from Duaa in an upcoming Q&A.
KEIRA CLAESSEN-WOMACK, CONNECTING THROUGH RESPECT
Vanderbilt School of Nursing master's graduate Keira Claessen-Womack spends her days helping a group of people that others might ignore. She works in a special nonprofit clinic in Nashville providing holistic health care for those with substance use disorders. She is intentional about creating an environment of dignity and caring, so patients in vulnerable populations and their families know they matter.
"If I could wave a magic wand and change our health care system, the first thing I would do is make it a nonjudgmental space that is approachable," said the Washington, D.C., native. "I just want these patients to feel empowered to focus on their health."
LIFE EXPERIENCES
Claessen-Womack has personally experienced the pain of addiction in family members, which strengthens her empathy and resolve to offer holistic care. She excelled as a Collaborative Academic Practice scholar, a program that supports nursing students with a specific interest in caring for people in medically underserved or rural communities.
"My experiences growing up significantly changed my perspective on how vulnerable patient populations, such as those with substance use disorders or other mental health needs, are treated in the health care system," she said. "As a nurse practitioner today, I am able to help them take a deep breath and relax and feel safe and heard and finally be open to seeking treatment."
Her instructors saw the passion behind her purpose early on.
"Keira's passion and vision was palpable," said Chance Allen, instructor in nursing. "I was able to connect her with one of my mentors to help her reach her vision of landing at Meharry Medical. I believe Keira's compassion and her energetic demeanor will instill hope and positively impact many people. I'm grateful to have been a pivotal part of her journey."
VALUE OF A TEAM
As a first-generation college student, Claessen-Womack pursued her undergraduate dreams as a student-athlete in North Carolina. She said the intensity of juggling collegiate softball with classes and then working in a pediatric emergency room while on breaks gave her a strong work ethic and reinforced her values of building an empathetic support system.
"My sports community, my upbringing and the support of my parents instilled so many things that I think allowed me to get to VUSN," she said. "I lead with humility so I can be the best caregiver I can be."
A journey in caregiving that she is inspired to pursue.
"I would promote nursing to anyone and everyone, because there is no one size fits all in terms of where you can end up in your career and what you can focus on," Claessen-Womack said. "Nurses are so innovative, and they work together for the benefit of others. That's true belonging."
- Look for more stories in the Class of 2025 storytelling series coming soon!
