The Faculty Senate is made up of eight committees, each given charges for the academic year.
2025-2026 Committees
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Academic Policies and Services (APS)
To be concerned with new schools, new programs and new degrees. To consider policies regarding academic honors, leaves, grants, promotions, departmental and divisional chairmanships, programs abroad, the academic calendar, career planning and placement, Vanderbilt University Library, Information Services, the bookstore, and the University Press.
Committee Members:EC Liaison: Matthew Lang, Engineering (2027)
Chair: Nabil Simaan, Engineering (2027)
Angela Weingarten, School of Medicine (2028)
Lynn Punnoose, School of Medicine (2028)
Matt Schroer, Nursing (2027)
Spencer Dowdall, Arts & Science (2027)
Jon Shaw, Library (Ex Officio)
Doug Christiansen (Ex Officio)
Eric Cummings (Ex Officio)
Matthew Johnson-Roberson (Ex Officio)
Elizabeth J. Zechmeister (Ex Officio)
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Faculty Life (FLC)
To be concerned with policies relating to wages and salaries, fringe benefits, management of investments, employment of non-academic personnel, faculty intellectual property including copyrights and patents, buildings and grounds, space, campus communications, traffic, parking, food services, and campus security.
Committee Members:- EC Liaison: Jason Harris, Arts & Science (2027)
- Chair: David Hyde, Engineering (2026)
- Leilani Acosta, Medicine (2026)
- James Booth, Peabody (2026)
- Dawn Iacobucci, Owen (2026)
- John Yang, Arts & Science (2026)
- Rachel Sobel, School of Medicine (2027)
- Christopher Baron, School of Medicine (2027)
- Kim Ely, School of Medicine (2028)
- Laura Stark, Arts & Science (2028)
- Jannyse Tapp, Nursing (2028)
- Duane Watson (Ex Officio)
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Faculty Manual (FMC)
To be concerned with all changes and proposed changes to the Faculty Manual and changes in other University policies that have a direct bearing on the Faculty Manual. To be concerned with compliance and regulatory changes from federal/state agencies and other regulatory bodies that require revisions to the Manual. To be concerned with policy issues arising within the Colleges and Schools at Vanderbilt that require clarification of the Manual, especially where congruence between the Schools and University is concerned. To ensure that any changes to the Manual are clearly identified, communicated, and archived annually.
Committee Members:
- EC Liaison: Alissa Hare, Arts & Science (Ex Officio)
- Louis Garrard, Medicine (2026)
- Tim Hanusa, Arts & Science (2026)
- Paul Laibinis, Engineering (2026)
- Timothy Geiger, Medicine (2027)
- Ahmad Taha, Engineering (2027)
- James Byrd, Divinity (2028)
- Nicole Joseph, Peabody (2028)
- Will Doyle, Peabody (2028)
- Yi Ren, Basic Sciences (2028)
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Faculty Outreach and Engagement (FOE)
To be concerned with outreach to all faculty in the pursuit of shared governance and engagement with faculty in the work of the Faculty Senate.
Committee Members:- EC Liaison: Peter Kolkay, Blair (Ex Officio)
- Chair: Debra Friedman, Medicine (2026)
- Parul Goyal, School of Medicine (2026)
- Vicki Harris, Peabody (2027)
- Ben Spiller, Medicine (2027)
- Joshua Murray, A&S (2027)
- Ellen McMahon, Medicine (2028)
- Amy Whigham, Medicine (2028)
- Sydney Savion (Ex Officio)
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Grievances (GrC)
To be concerned with grievances arising under Part IV, Chapter 2, Section B of the Faculty Manual (those that arise from issues other than reappointment, tenure, and promotion).
Committee Members:
- EC Liaison: Tyler Barrett, School of Medicine (2026)
- Chair: Paul Miller, Arts & Science (2027)
- Nina Martin, Peabody (2026)
- Alexis Finet, Arts & Science (2027)
- Andrea Capizzi, Peabody (2027)
- Queen Henry-Okafor, Nursing (2027)
- Anthony Langone, Medicine (2027)
- Peter Chang, Medicine (2027)
- Alvaro Manrique Barrenechea, Law (2028)
- Maria Triana, Owen (2028)
- Barron Frazier, School of Medicine (2028)
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Senate Affairs (SAC)
To be concerned with all matters pertaining to the functioning of the Senate. Responsible for a continuing review of the Rules of the Senate, recommending new rules when appropriate, and assisting in the interpretation of existing rules. Considers proposed revisions of the Constitution of the Faculty Assembly and Senate when this duty is assigned by the Senate.
Committee Members:
- Chair: Angel Anthamatten, Nursing (2027)
- EC Liaison: Peter Kolkay, Blair (Ex Officio)
- EC Liaison: Alissa Hare, Arts & Science (Ex Officio)
- Allison Walker, Arts & Science (2026)
- Christina Hayhurst, Medicine (2026)
- Kelly Sopko, Medicine (2026)
- Joe Fishman, Law (2026)
- Andrea Moro, Arts & Science (2028)
- Tyler Derr, Engineering (2028)
- Karen Hande, Nursing (2028)
- Akos Ledeczi (Ex Officio)
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Strategic Planning and Academic Freedom Committee (SPAF)
To be concerned with the impact of university-wide strategic planning on faculty self-governance and on the ability of faculty to perform their teaching, research and creative self-expression, service, and other professional responsibilities effectively. To be concerned with the policies regarding professional ethics, conscience, and academic freedom under Article II, Section C.5 of the Senate Constitution.
Committee Members:- EC Liaison: Jason Harris, Arts & Science (2027)
- Chair: John Ayers, Arts & Science (2026)
- Mariano Sana, Arts & Science (2026)
- David Binns Williams, Blair (2027)
- Anthony Langone, School of Medicine (2027)
- Melissa Snarr, Divinity (2027)
- Peter Chang, School of Medicine (2027)
- Paul Speer, Peabody (2027)
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Student Life (SLC)
To be concerned with policies relating to student matters including residential colleges, rules and discipline, future composition of the student body, fraternities and sororities, intercollegiate athletics and club sports, intramurals, the Honor System, faculty-student relations, religious affairs, and the student health service.
Committee Members:
- EC Liaison: Pengfei Li, Arts & Science (2026)
- Chair: Brian Heuser, Peabody (2028)
- Julio Ayala, Medicine (2026)
- Elise Boos, School of Medicine (2026)
- Bethany Wiese, Blair (2027)
- Nathalie Debrauwere-Miller, Arts & Science (2027)
- Anna Marra, Arts & Science (2028)
- Jonathan Gilligan, Arts & Science (2028)
- Mona Ebrish, Engineering (2028)
- Tamarya Hoy, School of Medicine (Guest of the Senate)