Nine faculty members who hold endowed chairs were honored for their extraordinary academic achievements at a Sept. 8 festive event at the Student Life Center.
“We celebrate our colleagues today as a way of thanking them for their work to make this world a better place,” said Jeff Balser, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine. “At the same time, we take this opportunity to recognize a group of amazing donors who have invested in Vanderbilt’s tradition of discovery and our relentless pursuit of knowledge.”
Susan Wente, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, joined Balser in thanking the donors for their generosity and introducing the chair holders, who are listed below with their academic appointments:
- Christopher R. Aiken, Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair in Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology;
- Lauren A. Benton, Nelson O. Tyrone, Jr. Chair in History;
- Joshua D. Clinton, Abby and Jon Winkelried Chair;
- Cindy D. Kam, William R. Kenan Jr. Chair;
- Robert L. Macdonald, Margaret and John Warner Chair for Neurological Education;
- Michael I. Miga, Harvie Branscomb Chair;
- Robert B. Talisse, W. Alton Jones Chair in Philosophy;
- Mark T. Wallace, Louise B. McGavock Chair; and
- Jeanne A. Wanzek, Currey-Ingram Chair in Special Education.
Tuesday’s event marked the 17th one to pay tribute to faculty members who have been named to endowed chairs. A total of 165 chair holders have been honored since the initiative to recruit and retain outstanding scholars and teachers was announced in August 2010 by Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos, who attended Tuesday’s celebration.