The 2026 rookie class spent a morning uplifting children and families through games, laughter and hands-on activities at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Upperman, who joined Vanderbilt in 2019, is one of 52 individuals from business, government, education, medical and nonprofit sectors across the state to make up the 2026-2027 cohort.

Tennessee has more than 18 Project SEARCH sites, including Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital. The state ranks among the top three for employing people with disabilities through the model.

Awards were presented during the annual Spring Faculty Assembly on May 29.

Three Department of Biostatistics faculty have won new leadership roles and honors in the American Statistical Association and the International Statistical Institute

She highlighted several systemic and financial programs designed to improve departmental collaboration between frontline staff and operational teams, and better support workforce well-being and professional growth.  

The investment marks a major public commitment to research on the life-altering neurodegenerative disease.