By Lacie Blankenship
In late October, Vanderbilt Business hosted the 6th annual Cosmo Week. From international trivia to conversational Spanish workshops, students, faculty, and staff were invited to connect and engage in conversations showcasing the rich culture of the Owen community.
Left to Right: Karan Jaswani (MBA’25), Aarshia Salukhe (MBA’25), Jagpreet Bajwa (MBA’25) in the Management Hall lobby
“As an international student, when I got here last year, there was such a big transition, not just from an academic standpoint, but also culturally,” said Aarshia Salukhe (MBA’25), VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Owen Student Government Association (OSGA). “Cosmo Week felt like a special moment for the international community to shine in a safe space, allowing domestic students to get to know us in a way that’s essential for integrating well into the community.”
Building Community: What is Cosmo Week?
Cosmo Week, short for Cosmopolitan Week, is an annual week-long celebration hosted by Vanderbilt Business students to recognize and honor the diverse cultures within the community. Students are encouraged to share the beauty of their own cultures by participating in various events around the school.
2024 Cosmo Week Highlights
Cosmo Week is put on by the OSGA DEI Committee, with support from the OSGA International Affairs Committee: Salukhe, KeAnne Thomas (MBA’25), VP of DEI, Devi Lawrence (MBA’25), Senator DEI, Jagadeesh Vattikonda (MBA’25), VP of International Affairs, Anthony Okolue (MBA’25), VP of International Affairs, Aaron Varella (MBA’26), Senator DEI, Jon Bergamo (MBA’26), Senator DEI, Tasneem Ezzy (MBA’26), Senator International Affairs.
“The beauty of Cosmo Week is that international students have traveled far from our home countries for global exposure, and this designated week helps us intentionally connect with people who are different from us, while also staying true to ourselves,” said Salukhe.
Humans of Owen
Modeled after the famous Humans of New York, Humans of Owen is an initiative for members of the community to share their stories. Priscilla Agboada (MBA’25) of Tadzewu, Ghana, Tatiana Mamchur (MBA’25) of Minsk, Belarus, and Amara Zulfiqar (MBA’26) of Lahore, Pakistan, helped kick off the week’s events by sharing their stories during a lunch session on the first day of Cosmo Week.
Left to Right: Yasin Alan, Sina Moghadas Khorasani, Wendy Liu, Johan Cassel Pegelow at the International Professors Panel
Conversational Spanish Workshop
The Hispanic Heritage Month Working Group hosted a conversational Spanish/Portuguese workshop on the second day of Cosmo Week. Students who natively speak Spanish and Portuguese joined others who were new or amateur speakers for an engaging exchange. Coxinha, a popular Brazilian food, was served to those interested in having a taste of the culture.
International Professors Panel
Yasin Alan, Associate Professor of Operations Management, Sina Moghadas Khorasani, Assistant Professor of Operations Management, Wendy Liu, Associate Professor of the Practice of Finance and Faculty Director, MS Finance Program, and Johan Cassel Pegelow, Assistant Professor of Finance, participated in an International Professors Panel during the lunch hour on the Wednesday of Cosmo Week. The professors shared insights on adapting to culture and connecting, reflected on their personal and professional journeys, and engaged with the audience.
Movie Night
On Wednesday evening, a movie night was hosted in Management Hall with snacks and drinks for the showing of the Indian comedy-drama 3 Idiots.
International Trivia
The Owen Global Business Association (GBA) hosted International Trivia during the lunch hour on Thursday of Cosmo Week. Vietnamese cuisine, Banh-mi, was served, and students could register teams in advance.
Vanderbilt Business students gather at the Diwali Closing Bell
Closing Bell: Diwali
The Cosmo Week Closing Bell, hosted by the Owen South Asian Business Club, was a unique collaborative event with Vanderbilt undergraduate students. The Vanderbilt Bollywood Dance Group attended the Closing Bell, performed for attendees, and also taught lessons.
Digital Display Boards & Social Media Takeovers
In addition to the campus events sprinkled throughout the week, Owen’s international and multicultural students were invited to submit information about themselves, their home countries, fun facts, and photos to be featured on the digital display boards in Management Hall. Students were also invited to participate in social media takeovers, which they posted throughout their day from the Vanderbilt Business social media accounts.
