Janet Roberts, facilities manager for Peabody College at Vanderbilt University, has been caught on a Townhall video indicating that Vanderbilt is still operating their Diversity Equity and Inclusion programs (DEI) under the radar in order to avoid losing federal funding. But she didn’t stop there, she continued by disparaging Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn, who is expected to announce her campaign for Governor shortly.
“God help us, she’s ridiculous,” Roberts said on video, referring directly to Senator Marsha Blackburn.
“We are heavily supported by federal funding…[so] we’re not advertising diversity and inclusion lectures.”
“We’re flying under the radar…”, Roberts admitted.
🚨BUSTED: @VanderbiltU's Janet Roberts was CAUGHT ON CAMERA disparaging Sen. Marsha Blackburn and hiding the school's DEI practices.
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 23, 2025
"God help us…[@MarshaBlackburn's] ridiculous"
"We are heavily supported by federal funding…[so] we're not advertising diversity and… pic.twitter.com/CIxV6FCrwe
Roberts works through the office of the Dean and received the Heart and Soul Award from the Chancellor of Vanderbilt University in 2018. She has been employed by the University for over two decades.
Vanderbilt is the second high profile University in Nashville to have a top official exposed admitting to “shadow” DEI programs being operated in violation of federal law and regulations in just the past week. Belmont University has been subject to additional scrutiny after one of their officials admitted that DEI is still being conducted on campus just under the shadows. https://tristardaily.com/belmont-dei-video-controversy-gets-national-attention/ The President of Belmont has denied the University is operating DEI programs and also denied that they are helping illegal aliens avoid detection by ICE. He has promised an investigation on campus.
Vanderbilt University receives significant federal funding that could potentially be at risk if Ms. Roberts statements are accurate. Vanderbilt University has not yet issued any statement in response to her video comments.
