Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) associate director Laurie Cutting, Ph.D., and Vanderbilt Consortium LEND director Evon Lee, Ph.D., were both honored with awards from state and local entities for their commitment to serving individuals with disabilities in our community.
Laurie Cutting: 2026 NF Tennessee Impact Award
Laurie Cutting, Ph.D.
Laurie Cutting, who serves as Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Special Education and professor of Psychology, Radiology, and Pediatrics, was recognized by Neurofibromatosis (NF) Tennessee as a 2026 recipient of the NF Tennessee Impact Award.
This award recognizes individuals who in some way contribute to the local NF community, providing support, education, and advocacy, all of which are cornerstones of the NF Tennessee mission. Cutting’s research examines the relation of neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) and reading disorders.
“[Dr. Cutting’s research] serves as a great source of encouragement and pride to the local NF community, as well as nationally,” said NF Tennessee board member Paul Moots.
The award was presented at the annual NF Tennessee Picnic on May 16, coinciding with World NF Awareness Day on May 17.
Evon Lee: Jacek Hawiger Award for Teaching Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows in the Classroom, Lecture or Small Group Setting
Evon Lee, Ph.D.
Evon Batey Lee was awarded the Jacek Hawiger Award for Teaching Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows in the Classroom, Lecture or Small Group Setting. Lee received her award during Vanderbilt University School of Medicine’s Spring Faculty Assembly on May 29.
Lee serves as professor of Pediatrics, Psychology, and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences in addition to her directorship within the Vanderbilt Consortium LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities) and role as director of Training with the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center UCEDD.
Lee was one of 14 Vanderbilt School of Medicine faculty recognized for excellence in teaching, extraordinary performance of clinical service, and outstanding contributions to research during the assembly. She was praised for being a well-regarded mentor, clinician, and researcher with extensive experience in autism and other developmental disabilities.
“No one is more deserving of this recognition than Dr. Evon Lee,” said Zack Warren, Ph.D., VKC TRIAD executive director. “For more than four decades, she has shaped generations of students, trainees, and future leaders through her extraordinary wisdom, humility, compassion, and unwavering commitment to helping others succeed.
“Evon embodies the very best of academic mentorship,” Warren continued. “Her lasting impact can be seen not only in the hundreds of trainees she has guided, but also in the generations of children, families, and communities ultimately served through their work.”
Top photo by Getty Images/iStockphoto
