Richard McCarty
Photo by Daniel Dubois.
Richard McCarty, a distinguished psychologist who has led the largest school at Vanderbilt University for the past seven years, has been named provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.
“Richard embodies Vanderbilt’s values of excellence and fairness,” said Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos in announcing the appointment in May. “He is a scholar who is committed to every aspect of our education mission.”
McCarty received his bachelor’s degree in biology and master’s degree in zoology from Old Dominion University before earning a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University. He is an authority on the physiological and behavioral aspects of stress. A native of Portsmouth, Va., he spent two years as a research associate in pharmacology with the National Institute of Mental Health before joining the University of Virginia in 1978 as an assistant professor of psychology. He then rose to department chair before taking a leave of absence to join the American Psychological Association as executive director for science. He has served as editor of American Psychologist and as founding editor-in-chief of Stress.
Under McCarty’s direction Vanderbilt embarked on a significant faculty recruitment initiative; undergraduate student quality, diversity and selectivity were ranked among the highest in the country; and graduate student enrollment and diversity increased dramatically.
As provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, McCarty will have responsibility for academic programs of the Blair School of Music, College of Arts and Science, Divinity School, School of Engineering, Graduate School, Law School, Owen Graduate School of Management and Peabody College, and also will oversee student affairs, housing, admissions and financial aid, and research.
Carolyn Dever, executive dean of the College of Arts and Science and professor of English, is serving as interim dean of the College of Arts and Science until a new dean is named.