Burish named president of Washington and Lee

Thomas G. Burish, the longest-serving provost in Vanderbilt University history, has been named president of Washington and Lee University.

Burish was chosen from a field of 150 candidates to become the 24th president of the Lexington, Va., university. He succeeds John Elrod, who died July 27, 2001, after serving as president for more than six years.

Last September, Burish disclosed that he was stepping down as provost, a position he had held at Vanderbilt for nearly 10 years.

"During his time as Provost, Vanderbilt's academic achievements reached levels that would have been unthinkable a generation earlier," said Chancellor Gordon Gee. "His commitment to faculty scholarship and teaching, student success and effective management is matched by an unwavering sense of honor and compassion. Washington and Lee is fortunate indeed to have him as a president."

Burish joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 1976 and became psychology department chair in 1984. In 1986 he was named associate provost for academic affairs before serving as acting provost in 1992. He was formally appointed to the position in 1993. Under his leadership, Vanderbilt experienced tremendous growth in faculty achievement, student quality and budget stability.

"Tom Burish has a proven record of success as a teacher, scholar, public figure and university leader," said Rector J. Frank Surface, chairman of the Washington and Lee Board of Trustees.

A distinguished teacher and researcher, Burish is a recipient of the Madison Sarratt Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, and has co-authored or edited four books and numerous book chapters and articles. Active for many years in the field of cancer research and policy, he serves on numerous professional and scientific committees, and is currently the secretary of the national board of directors of the American Cancer Society.

A Wisconsin native, Burish earned a bachelor of arts in psychology at the University of Notre Dame in 1972. He earned his master's degree in psychology in 1975 and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 1976 at the University of Kansas.