Eleven Vanderbilt University faculty members named to endowed chairs were honored for their academic achievements during a celebration April 30 at the Student Life Center.
“These honorees have made remarkable contributions to society,” Jeff Balser, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, said in his introductory remarks. “We honor (them) … because we believe in their futures.
“We also recognize a group of very generous donors who are equally committed to building this future,” Balser said. “We’re deeply grateful to have such dedicated partners who really believe that education and discovery can change the world.”
Richard McCarty, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, joined Balser in introducing the new chair holders, who are:
- Sam Chang, Patricia and Rodes Hart Chair in Urologic Surgery;
- Tracey George, Charles B. Cox III and Lucy D. Cox Family Chair in Law and Liberty, professor of political science and director of the Branstetter Litigation and Dispute Resolution Program;
- Seth Karp, Ingram Chair in Surgical Sciences, professor of surgery and director of the Vanderbilt Transplant Center;
- Howard Katzenstein, Scott and Tracie Hamilton Chair in Cancer Survivorship, professor of pediatrics, and medical director of pediatric hematology oncology;
- Robert Macdonald, Gerald M. Fenichel Chair in Neurology, chairman of the Department of Neurology, and professor of pharmacology and of molecular physiology and biophysics;
- Simon Mallal, Major E.B. Stahlman Chair in Infectious Diseases and Inflammation, professor of medicine and of pathology, microbiology and immunology, and founding director of the Center for Translational Immunology and Infectious Diseases;
- Hassane Mchaourab, Louise B. McGavock Chair and professor of molecular physiology and biophysics;
- John McLean, Stevenson Chair in Chemistry;
- Elizabeth Phillips, John A. Oates Chair in Clinical Research, professor of medicine and director of personalized immunology in the Oates Institute for Experimental Therapeutics;
- Michael Vandenbergh, David Daniels Allen Distinguished Chair of Law, co-director of the Energy, Environment and Land Use Program and director of the Climate Change Research Network; and
- David Wright, Stevenson Chair in Chemistry.
This was the 13th celebration to honor faculty members who have been named to endowed chairs. Since the major university initiative to recruit and retain outstanding scholars and teachers was announced by Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos in August 2010, 134 chair holders have been recognized.
