DECEMBER 2022 | Issue 44

Peabody Office of Student Engagement & Well-Being

A monthly newsletter with inspiration for self-care, engagement, and reflection

Drawing of bear, fox, and girl hibernating by Jessica Boehman

"Bedtime Stories" by Jessica Boehman

WORKING THE COMPASS

Welcoming Winter: What To Do on the Longest Night

Meaghan E. Mundy (she/her), Assistant Dean | Peabody Office of Student Engagement and Well-Being

December is a month that holds many different traditions, celebrations, memories, and rituals for each of us. Yet the one thing we all have in common is the Winter Solstice. In the northern hemisphere, December 21st is the day, astronomically, when the Earth tilts furthest on its axis, resulting in a night of more darkness and a day with less sunlight. Then, as December 22nd dawns? The days begin to lengthen, almost imperceptibly, second by second and inch by inch.

After all the craziness of the semester and the year - exams, papers, losses, loves, new puppies, tricky and lovely friends and family, old worries, new worries, and other things over which we have little control - perhaps we can think about the solstice, the longest night, as extending a lovely invitation for us. We can go to bed earlier and maybe sleep longer. Snuggle more. Enjoy a warm fire. Light a candle and sit in its stillness. Drink a favorite warm beverage. Spend time with friends and family, laughing and remembering. Read a good book. Listen to music. Create something.

Several great ideas are presented in Mother magazine. Here’s a modified shortlist:

Decorate an outdoor edible tree for animals
Make winter solstice lanterns
Read winter solstice books or poems
Make orange pomanders
Take photos of the sliver, crescent moon on the 21st
Reflect, release, let go, and set intentions for the new season/new year

How might you mark the longest night and set intentions for the beckoning new year? Gather your friends and family (or friends like family) and breathe deeply into that dark night. Or sit quietly in your own company amidst the stillness. Be fully present as one season gives way to the next. Mark the occasion. Honor an old tradition; or, create a new one!

The Winter Solstice will be the shortest day and longest night of the year here in Nashville, TN. Then, Mother Nature, doing what she does so well, will move us, minute by minute, day by day, toward more light. Longer days. A new year. New possibilities.

I like to think of it as holy hope.

Your Winter Solstice curiosity piqued? Learn more about solstice traditions around the world here

STUDENT VOICES

Karina Rovey

Our featured student, Karina Rovey, is a senior in HOD graduating this December! Read about how she is engaged with renewable energy movements locally and abroad, how her time at Peabody as impacted her, and what is next on her horizon as she graduates this month!

A favorite class or professor and what you most appreciated:

Public Policy with Professor Drew Kim. Professor Kim is a very experienced expert to learn from, and as a previous Policy Chief and Policy Consultant for both Democrat and Republican state governors, he showed me that it is possible and critical to develop policy solutions that bridge party lines. The course also encouraged me to think deeply about my career path and where true impact is made. We had many guest speakers during the semester, and listening to their stories helped me begin to understand that developing true solutions to any challenge requires immersing yourself in the communities that are affected and listening as much as you can.

An unexpected direction you went and what you learned from it:

Looking for an internship right in the midst of the pandemic, I really had no idea where to go. I knew that I was interested in working for a startup, and ended up at a renewable energy company, even though I knew little to nothing about the energy industry or sustainability. But once I started diving into the work, I quickly became completely infatuated with this whole new realm. Since then, I have interned for the Department of Energy and Tennessee Valley Authority, and will be continuing a full time career in energy as well. From this experience, I learned two things: first, that you never know when an opportunity will come to you, and even if it’s completely new and uncertain, saying yes can be life-changing. Secondly, I learned to go in the direction of what makes you endlessly curious. Curiosity fuels passion, and this experience showed me that finding your “purpose” in life goes hand in hand with following the things that you never get tired of learning about.

What is your why and how did your time at Peabody help you live more fully into it?

Discovering a sense of peace in life and helping others do the same. I feel that I have spent too much time trying to be “happy,” without understanding that, while happiness is very important, it is part of the human experience to have a range of emotions, from happy to sad and everywhere in between. Instead, I want to grow towards peace with myself and my environment, and in my interactions with others, inspire a sense of peace within them as well. My time at Peabody helped me live more fully into this goal by intentionally integrating opportunities to reflect and learn about myself within coursework, and then more importantly, also opportunities to shift my focus outwards, whether it be through completing practicum hours as a part of a course on homelessness, getting to use class funds to support Nashville non-profits in a course on Philanthropy, or working toward a cleaner environment for Tennesseans through my capstone internship at TVA.

Words of wisdom to share:

Connect with as wide a diversity of people as you can during your time at Vanderbilt. This campus is full of so many incredible people and perspectives, and it truly is a privilege to get to be a part of this community. You can learn as much from conversations with peers, mentors, and professors as you can from your classes, so take advantage of that opportunity. You never know what doors can open or new experiences you can gain through relationships that you form.

With graduation on the horizon, what’s next?

I can’t believe that it is already time for graduation! I will miss this place so much, but I am equally excited for what is to come. I will spend the month of January in Capetown, South Africa, taking a class on the history of apartheid and the HIV/AIDS crisis, while exploring the beautiful city and surrounding outdoors. When I return to the U.S., I will be entering a full-time role as the first team member in Community Partnerships at Clearloop, a young startup based in Nashville. Clearloop seeks to engage corporate partners in building commercial solar farms in economically distressed communities whose grids rely heavily on fossil fuels. My job will be building strategies and processes that link environmental and social benefits together - learning how we can better connect different stakeholders to leverage the impact of renewable energy projects. Now that I will no longer be in school, I am also looking forward to spending more time traveling, volunteering in Nashville, and maybe picking up some new hobbies and friends along the way.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Cozy Winter Drinks

As you work your way through finals and papers, take some time to rest and stay warm with these cozy winter drink recommendations. We have recipes for our chocolate lovers, vegan friends, and those that like a spicy kick!

Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

½ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ teaspoon salt
3 ¾ cups milk divided (or milk alternative)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (try Lily's chocolate chips for a lower sugar version!)

Directions:

Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.
Add all ingredients to a small or medium sized pot and mix with a whisk. Don't worry if the cocoa powder is clumpy at first. As it heats, you will be able to mix it in.
Heat the pot on the stove on medium heat, whisking occasionally. Continue heating until the hot chocolate is bubbling slightly. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
Use a spoon to taste and test the temperature. When it’s hot enough, remove the pot from the heat and pour the contents into a mug.

From thetoastykitchen

Oat Milk Hot Chocolate (Vegan)

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups oat milk (unsweetened)
2 tablespoons maple syrup*
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder

Directions:

Add all ingredients to a small or medium sized pot and mix with a whisk. Don't worry if the cocoa powder is clumpy at first. As it heats, you will be able to mix it in.
Heat the pot on the stove on medium heat, whisking occasionally. Continue heating until the hot chocolate is bubbling slightly. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
Use a spoon to taste and test the temperature. When it’s hot enough, remove the pot from the heat and pour the contents into a mug.
*Add a bit more maple syrup if you want your hot chocolate to be sweeter.

From Bree's Vegan Life

Slow Cooker Mulled Cider

Ingredients:

64 ounces apple cider or unfiltered apple juice
¼ cup brown sugar, optional
4 cinnamon sticks
2 whole star anise
2 whole cloves
1 orange sliced

Directions:

Crockpot: Add all ingredients to a 3-quart slow cooker and stir to combine. Set to low and warm for 2 hours.

Stovetop: Add all ingredients to a stock pot on the stove over medium to medium-low heat. Warm your cider for 30 minutes, or until heated through and fragrant. If preparing on the stove top, do not allow your cider to simmer or boil. If your cider begins to simmer, lower the heat slightly.

Discard spices before serving. Ladle cider into mugs and serve warm. Optionally, top each mug with an orange slice.

From thetoastykitchen

Recipes submitted by Karen Perez

HEALTHY MOVES

Relax. Rest. Read. Repeat.

Sometimes, the healthiest thing we can do is rest and recharge. We are thinking some reading for pleasure over the break might be just what is needed! We recently asked the Peabody community to share a book or podcast recommendation with us for the upcoming Iris Book Club. We had so many wonderful recommendations to choose from, and since we couldn't pick them all, we wanted to share the diverse list. This upcoming break, we hope you take time to relax, rest, recharge, and enjoy the time off. And, if the page or podcast calls to you, we invite you to read or listen to one of these recommendations from our community. Thank you to everyone who submitted a recommendation!

BOOKS:

Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Circe by Madeline Miller
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
The Necessary Journey: Making Real Progress on Equity and Inclusion by Ella Washington
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
I Dream He Talks to Me by Allison Moorer
Icarus Fallen by Chantal Delsol
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Leveraged Learning: How the Disruption of Education Helps Lifelong Learners, and Experts with Something to Teach by Danny Iny
Disability Demystified by Emily Ladau
Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Second Mountain by David Brooks
The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang
Viral Justice by Ruha Benjamin
Hello, Career by Ed Bray
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Displacement by Lucy Knisley
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Black Disability Politics by Sami Schalk

PODCASTS:

Sold a Story - podcast
Rotten Mango - podcast on true crime

PEABODY IRIS BOOK CLUB
The Peabody Office of Student Engagement & Well-Being and The Peabody Library invite you to join in a lunch and book discussion with the Peabody Iris Book Club selections. Sign up here by Friday, December 9 to receive a FREE copy of your chosen book to read or listen to over winter break. Then join us in the new year for a virtual and in-person discussion, more details to come!

SELECTIONS:

Viral Justice by Ruha Benjamin
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
Hello, Career by Ed Bray
Sold a Story - podcast

EDI VOICES AT THE TABLE

Building an Inclusive Holiday Season

Hasina Mohyuddin (she/her), Assistant Dean | Peabody Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

As a Muslim growing up in the South, I often had mixed feelings about celebrating holidays. On the one hand, it was wonderful to spend time with friends and colleagues. On the other hand, the celebrations that took place at school or work often failed to recognize my religious and ethnic background. As I grew older, I also realized that while we often think of holidays as times of joy and celebrations, they are also times that can spark grief and loneliness for some people. And as we approach the end of the year, the emphasis on winter holidays can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation and a lack of belonging.

One way to be more inclusive during this time is to focus on reflections of the end of the year or looking forward to the new year. This may foster a greater sense of community as we share our experiences and hopes with one another. This can also be an excellent time to learn more about the religious and cultural traditions of others. The Office of Religious Life offers a Holy Days calendar that can be found here. This can be one way to learn more about the traditions of those in our community.

We’d also love to hear more about the holidays and celebrations that are important to you! You can share your feedback with us here. We’d love to hear how we can make Peabody a more inclusive space for all.

RESOURCES

Headspace App

Vanderbilt students have free access to Headspace – an award-winning, research-backed digital tool for mindful living with over 1,200+ hours of themed meditations, sleep content, mindful movement exercises, and focus music. With over 75+ research collaborations and 26 published studies as the mindfulness digital intervention of choice, Headspace has been shown to reduce stress, improve focus, increase resilience and happiness. Enroll in Vanderbilt’s program here.

University Counseling Center (UCC) Resources

The UCC, part of the Student Care Network, offers in-person individual counseling, group therapy, and workshops. The University Counseling Center (UCC) is available to all full-time Vanderbilt students. To learn more about eligibility and UCC services, please visit their website.

Groups and workshops are also available for affinity groups and as safe spaces for students with diverse needs. If support from like-minded students feels like something that would be helpful to you, we encourage you to check out the many wonderful options!

Need help immediately? Find the UCC's crisis resources here.

Student of Concern Form

Faculty, staff, fellow students, community members, and family members can report concerns pertaining to the personal, physical, or emotional well-being of a student using the Student of Concern Form. Forms can be submitted anonymously and help students get the support and resources they need.

Support for Faculty and Staff

If you are a faculty or staff member in need of mental health resources or support, please contact the Employee Assistance Program at Work-Life Connections. The Employee Assistance Program can provide support and resources related to a variety of issues (stress, emotional health, relationships, family, financial, alcohol, drug, and other personal concerns).

The University Staff Advisory Council is a wonderful resource that represents 90 elected individuals, who in turn represent more than 4,000 full- and part-time exempt and non-exempt Vanderbilt University staff members. USAC is an advisory group to administration and staff on issues, policies and practices that affect the university and those served by the council. Feel free to provide feedback or ask questions through this anonymous form. General body meetings are open and any staff member can attend on the second Tuesday of each month, 8:30-10 a.m. We hope to see you there!

If you are interested in a faculty/staff affinity group, many options are available. For questions or more information, please reach out to eag@vanderbilt.edu in the Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Campus Safety Resources

VandySafe App:The app allows users to contact VUPD via phone call or real-time chat, trigger a mobile Bluelight that shares your location instantly with VUPD, initiate a “Virtual Walkhome” where VUPD can monitor your walk home and much more.

VandyRide: We encourage everyone traveling to and from our locations in the evenings to consider using the VandyRide service, which operates from 6:00pm until 3:00am daily. Via the VandyRide interactive map and associated DoubleMap app, VandyRide’s location along its route is now viewable on your computer or mobile phone, and you can even set up text message alerts to let you know when a Van will be arriving to your stop.

Walking Escorts: All travelers traveling to and from our locations can request a walking escort, at any time, by calling the VUPS Communications Center at (615) 322-2745.

Learn more about campus safety resources here.

December Programs & Events

OFFICE HOURS

PEABODY OFFICE of STUDENT ENGAGEMENT & WELL-BEING (OSEW)
PEABODY OFFICE of EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION (EDI)

Both OSEW and EDI are located in the Peabody Administration Building, suite 216 and are open from 9am-4pm, Monday-Friday. We are also available by appointment. Please feel free to each out to us at PeabodyOSE@vanderbilt.edu or EDI-Peabody@vanderbilt.edu.

CAFE PCBG
December 1 | 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. | Wyatt Portico

Join the Peabody Coalition of Black Graduates as we prepare for the winter finals season! Come enjoy our hot chocolate bar and make a finals snack bag!

DEAN'S DIVERSITY LECTURE WITH PROVOST CYBELE RAVER
December 1 | 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Wyatt Rotunda

Join us for our Dean’s Diversity Lecture with Provost Cybele Raver, Flipping the Script: Notes from My Path to University Leadership.

C. Cybele Raver is an esteemed psychologist whose research has addressed the impacts of poverty and policy on early learning and development. She is also an accomplished academic trailblazer. Having identified both at the center and at the margins of institutions of higher education, Raver has come to understand herself as a university leader through all of her academic experiences – first as a community-engaged graduate student working to combat poverty, then as an early career quantitative social scientist translating research into policy, as a center director and deputy, and as a provost who mobilizes, supports, and promotes interdisciplinary research to solve society’s most pressing challenges.

As Vanderbilt’s provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, Raver oversees all faculty, staff, programs, and initiatives for Vanderbilt’s 10 schools and colleges. The lecture will also be streamed online here.

FALL FEAST
December 1 | 7:15 - 9:30 p.m. | Mayborn 117

Join your fellow Peabody graduate & professional students for a community dinner! The Peabody Professional and Graduate Student Association (PPGSA) is partnering with multiple affinity groups to provide foods from several cultures. Take a break from studying to get to know your peers better and to discuss what community means to you at the fall feast! Sign-Up Here!

COMMOM GROUNDS: SPECIAL WINTER BREAK EDITION

Common Grounds Coffee/Tea Pairing Program provides the Peabody community with the opportunity to connect through random pairings. The Winter Edition is created to keep you connected with the Peabody community over the winter break. Even if you are signed up for our regular edition, you will still need to sign up for this one!

1) Sign Up by Monday, December 5
2) Receive your random partner on Friday, December 9.
3) Reach out to your partner and plan a convenient time to connect over coffee or tea via zoom or in-person.
4) Make a new friend over winter break!

STRESS-BUSTING WEEK: DECEMBER 5-DECEMBER 9

Celebrate the last week of classes and take a break from your work to come re-center and de-stress with us. Feel free to come as you need to and when you can!

Meditation Monday | Monday December 5 | 1:00-1:45 p.m. | Center for Student Wellbeing Meditation Room or Zoom link here.

Goodie Bags | Monday December 5 | 2:00 p.m. | Peabody Administration Building
Kick-off Stress Busting Week by picking up a goodie bag! First come first serve.

Wellness Day | Tuesday December 6 | 2:00-4:00 p.m. | Peabody Library Fireside Reading Room
Enjoy self-care stations, make your own essential oil spray, crafts, crocheting, Crumbl cookies, hot cocoa and more! Co-sponsored by: The Peabody Office of Student Engagement and Well-Being, Peabody Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Peabody Library, and University Counseling Center.

Do-nut Stress | Wednesday December 7 | 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | Peabody Administration Building Room 113
Come enjoy a donut with Peabody Career Services!

Peabody Wine & Tea Tasting | Friday December 9 | 4:30-7:00 p.m. | Wyatt Center

The Peabody Office of Student Engagement & Well-being is excited to host the return of Peabody’s Annual Wine & Tea Tasting for all Peabody professional and graduate students- faculty, staff, and their guests are welcome too!

Tickets are $5* and include a variety of wine, teas, and appetizers and you’ll take home a Peabody College wine glass! Purchase tickets here by Friday, December 2. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

*In an effort to make this event inclusive to all, if you have any financial concerns, please email us.

PEABODY IRIS BOOK CLUB SIGN-UP | By December 9th

The Peabody Office of Student Engagement & Well-Being and The Peabody Library invite you to join in a lunch and book discussion with the Peabody Iris Book Club selections. Sign up here by Friday, December 9 to receive a FREE copy of your chosen book to read or listen to over winter break. Then join us on Friday, February 6 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. for a lunch and discussion.

TUTOR NASHVILLE

The Accelerating Scholars program is recruiting community volunteers to tutor more than 7,000 MNPS students who may need a little extra help and support with personalized and positive learning experiences. Tutors will receive training and support on all tutoring session plans and materials. Virtual and in-person opportunities are available. The deadline to sign up as a volunteer tutor is Jan 5th, 2023. You can apply to tutor at this link.

MEDITATION MONDAYS
Every Monday | 1:15 - 1:45 p.m. | Center for Student Wellbeing Meditation Room or Zoom link here.

Begin your week with a 20-minute meditation session, a partnership between the Office of Student Engagement and Well-Being and the Center for Student Wellbeing. This event is held both in-person and virtually.

UNIVERSITY COUNSELING CENTER (UCC) DROP-IN CONSULTATION FOR INTERNATIONAL AND APIDA-IDENTIFYING STUDENTS
Every Tuesday | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Peabody Administration Building, Heritage Room 218B

UCC Drop-In Consultation provides easy access to informal, confidential, and free consultations with University Counseling Center counselors. These consultations are helpful for students who:

1) are not sure about counseling and wonder what it’s like to talk with a counselor,

2) may not be interested in ongoing therapy but would like the perspective of a counselor,

3) have a specific problem and would like to talk it through with a counselor,

4) have a concern about a friend and want some thoughts about what to do.

Students who are experiencing an immediate mental health emergency are encouraged to attend UCC Urgent Care. For any questions about UCC Drop-In Consultation, please call 615-322-2571.

* UCC Drop-In Consultation hours at Peabody are specifically for APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) identifying students and/or international students

STUDENT CARE COORDINATION DROP-IN CONSULTATION FOR ALL INTERESTED STUDENTS
Every Thursday | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Peabody Administration Building, Heritage Room 218B

Student Care Coordination Drop-in meetings are offered so that students can meet quickly with a care coordinator to discuss any immediate needs, including but not limited to:

Planning for a successful semester
Identifying and connecting with resources for support on or off-campus
Discussing academic options, taking a Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA), and/or assistance with communicating with faculty/Dean’s office

Connecting with drop-in care coordination meetings are not therapy or counseling, but can help you get connected to counseling on or off-campus if that is what is needed!

Silver Linings

What beauty are you noticing? We invite you to both take in and share something that has caught your attention, caused you to pause, or put a smile on your face. What have you been grateful for? We need more of these beautiful moments in our full and sometimes messy, lovely lives. Please feel free to share a photo for inclusion in our next Well@Peabody newsletter, tag our office on Instagram with the hashtag #PeabodySilverLining or email us. Happy snapping!