Overview

About the College of Arts and Science

Recruiting and Retaining Top Faculty

Endowed Chairs

The highest honor Vanderbilt can give to a member of its faculty is the endowed chair. Because such chairs represent the pinnacle of achievement and recognition in the academic world, awarding them is the best way for Vanderbilt to recruit and retain distinguished senior scholars. Who is a distinguished senior scholar? Someone who has advanced the boundaries of human knowledge through their research, devoted themselves to teaching, and supported their academic institution and community through service. Unsurprisingly, such individuals are rare and in high demand.& Endowed chairs help us bring such scholars to the College of Arts and Science, where they raise the bar for faculty performance, attract outstanding students, and bring in external financial resources. They also raise Vanderbilt's national profile, helping the University recruit top scholars who will, in turn, reinforce this positive trend.

At present, the College of Arts and Science has 30 named, endowed chairs for a body of tenured or tenure-track faculty of approximately 325. Raising funds to endow additional chairs in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities is a major priority for the College of Arts and Science.

 

College of Arts and Science New Tenured
and Tenure-Track Faculty for 2006-2007

Department of Anthropology

Pierre Robert Colas, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Anthropology, on the tenure track, beginning Spring 2007

Sergio Romero, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Anthropology, on the tenure track

Steven A. Wernke, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Anthropology, on the tenure track

 

Department of Chemistry

John A. McLean, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry, on the tenure track

Jeffrey N. Johnston, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry, with tenure, beginning Spring 2006

 

Department of Classical Studies

David Petrain, Ph.D. expected 2006 Assistant Professor of Classics, on the tenure track

 

Department of Communication Studies

Bonnie J. Dow, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Communication Studies, with tenure

 

Department of Economics

Kevin Huang, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics, with tenure

Kip Viscusi, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor; Professor of Economics, with tenure

 

Department of English

Houston Baker, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor; Professor of English, with tenure [on leave of absence for the 2006-2007 academic year]

Ifeoma Nwankwo, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English, with tenure [on leave of absence for the 2006-2007 academic year]

Hortense Spillers, Ph.D., Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English;

Professor of English, with tenure [on leave of absence for the 2006-2007 academic year]

 

Department of the History of Art

Jinah Kim, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Art History, on the tenure track

 

Department of History

Brandi Brimmer, Ph.D. expected 2006, Assistant Professor of History, on the tenure track

Gary Gerstle, Ph.D., Professor of History, with tenure [on leave of absence for the 2006-2007 academic year]

Elizabeth Lunbeck, Ph.D., Nelson Tyrone, Jr. Professor of American History; Professor of History, with tenure [on leave of absence for the 2006-2007 academic year]

 

Jewish Studies Program

Allison Schachter, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies, on the tenure track

 

Department of Political Science

Michaela Mattes, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Political Science, on the tenure track

Brett V. Benson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Political Science, on the tenure track

 

Department of Psychology

Bunmi Olatunji, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology, on the tenure track

Stephen D. Benning, Ph.D. expected 2006, Assistant Professor of Psychology, on thetenure track

 

Department of Sociology

Katharine M. Donato, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, with tenure

 

Women’s and Gender Studies Program

Charlotte Pierce-Baker, Ph.D., Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies, with tenure [on leave of absence for the 2006-2007 academic year]