NASHVILLE, Tenn. — To honor generations of women whose pioneering spirit and championship legacy exemplify the best of the university, Vanderbilt has launched the Anchored for Her campaign to cement its place as the preeminent destination for women’s college sports—and to ensure that current and future Commodores will write their own history.
Bolstered by generous lead gifts from Vanderbilt Board of Trust members Nina Kohler and Kathleen Justice-Moore, JD’91, Anchored for Her’s initial $50 million goal will fuel investment in sustainable success for a new era of collegiate athletics. Ahead of next year’s 50th anniversary of its varsity women’s sports programs, Vanderbilt is asking the broad university community to help reach the goal and support the excellence already energizing campus, from soccer’s recent Elite Eight run, to volleyball’s return on Wyatt Lawn, to basketball’s galvanizing season and more.
“Anchored for Her invests in the women whose bold spirit will shape the future, just as our women’s sports pioneers helped make Vanderbilt one of one,” said Candice Storey Lee, vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletic director. “Across all of our sports, we see every day that being a Vanderbilt student-athlete is life-changing—not just for the individuals who come to compete for championships and leave prepared for life, but for the businesses, institutions and communities they enrich across a lifetime. As we approach the 50th anniversary of varsity women’s sports at Vanderbilt, we have 50 years of evidence of their importance for Vanderbilt—and for society. I ask our community to come together and deliver those opportunities for generations to come.”
For more than 130 years, since Stella Vaughn first led a Vanderbilt women’s basketball team onto the court, women with a passion for athletics have helped drive the university forward. In the modern era of varsity sports, for the past six years under the direction of a former Vanderbilt student-athlete and the first woman to serve as athletic director, women’s teams and student-athletes have won six national championships and more than 20 conference championships. Alumni have won Olympic gold, WNBA and NWSL titles and competed in bowling, golf and tennis majors and track and field world championships.
“Vanderbilt is committed to creating an environment where all students…