Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver honored scholars from across Vanderbilt at an endowed chair investiture ceremony on April 30. These individuals are prominent faculty members who have distinguished themselves as pioneers and leaders in their fields.
“If you want to understand what makes universities like ours indispensable to the nation, you need only consider the faculty members we honor today,” Diermeier said. “These are people whose work shapes the future. People who lead their fields with rigor, curiosity and creativity. Who open up new, innovative ways of thinking, and ignite the same in the future leaders they teach.”
In his remarks, Diermeier acknowledged the donors, several of whom were in attendance, who made the endowed positions possible.
“Your contributions reflect a commitment to our university’s future that is—in our present moment—particularly profound,” he said of the philanthropic support. “Your generosity stands as a powerful statement of confidence—in our faculty, in our mission and in the future we are building together. It represents the belief that world-class research and education are worthy of lasting investment.”
The distinguished faculty members representing a wide range of fields were presented with medallions that symbolize attaining their positions and will become part of their official academic regalia. The cohort represents various research areas, from mathematics to biochemistry to law and literature. Chair holders contribute their expertise to real-world challenges, including developing novel ways to fight disease, political inequality and access to justice, and the treatment of depression.
Raver spoke about the impact of endowed chairs: training their peers, mentoring each new generation of students to realize their own potential and devoting their lives to the pursuit of new ideas and passing on that knowledge.
“An endowed chair is more than recognition of your excellence—it is an investment in your future, just as your presence on this campus is an investment in the next generation of scholars, artists, business leaders and citizens,” Raver said. “This is not the culmination of your career, but a catalyst into the next stage of it.”
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Tracey George served as emcee for the ceremony and presented the newly endowed chair holders.
The following faculty members are Vanderbilt’s most recent endowed chair honorees:
- Rony A. Adam, M.D., Frances and John C. Burch Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Marcia Barnes, Ph.D., Dunn Family Chair in Psychoeducational Assessment
- Donald W. Brady, M.D., Gray E. B. Stahlman Chair #2
- Daniel B. Brown, M.D., Carol D. and Henry P. Pendergrass Chair in Radiology and Radiological Sciences
- Bruce D. Carter, Ph.D., Natalie Overall Warren Chair in Biochemistry
- William Ben Cutrer, M.D., Mike Fowler and Bonnie M. Miller Chair in Medical Education Innovation
- Jennifer L. Davis, Ph.D., Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Chair #5
- Anthony Richard Flores, M.D., MPH, Ph.D., Edward Claiborne Stahlman Chair #2
- Ivelin S. Georgiev, Ph.D., Louise B. McGavock Chair #5
- Steven L. Goodbred, Ph.D., Stevenson Chair #24
- Leor Halevi, Ph.D., Holland N. McTyeire Chair in History
- Ilana Seidel Horn, Ph.D., Wachtmeister Family Chair
- Ari Joskowicz, Ph.D., Eugene Greener Jr. Chair in Jewish Studies
- Jonathan Andrew Kropski, M.D., Rudy W. Jacobson Chair in Pulmonary Medicine
- Sara E. Mayeux, J.D., Ph.D., Mildred Prescott Miller Chair
- Lisa Marie Monteggia, Ph.D., Lee E. Limbird Chair in Pharmacology
- Richard M. O’Brien, Ph.D., Stevenson Chair #29
- Andrea Page-McCaw, Ph.D., Stevenson Chair #30
- Thomas J. Palmeri, Ph.D., Centennial Chair #1
- Vesna Pavlović, MFA, Paul E. Shwab Chair in Fine Arts
- Veronika Pool, Ph.D., Justin Potter Professorship
- Allison Schachter, Ph.D., Winkelried Family Chair in Jewish Studies
- Kevin L. Schey, Ph.D., Stevenson Chair #31
- Mark L. Schoenfield, Ph.D., Robert Penn Warren Professor of the Humanities
- Jennifer B. Shinall, J.D., Ph.D., Sara J. Finley Chair in Women, Law and Policy
- Eric Tatsuo Shinohara, M.D., Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair in Radiation Oncology #16
- David G. Stevenson, Ph.D., Mike Curb Chair for Health Policy
- Wendy K. Tam, Ph.D., Stevenson Chair #20
- Digna R. Velez Edwards, Ph.D., Lucius E. Burch Chair of Reproductive Physiology and Family Planning
- Glenn F. Webb, Ph.D., Centennial Chair #4
- Meike G.J. Werner, Ph.D., Centennial Chair #5
- Consuelo H. Wilkins, M.D., Mildred Thornton Stahlman Chair in Rural Health
- Matthew H. Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., Ruth King Scoville Chair in Medicine
