Nine Women Named Emerita Faculty at Vanderbilt University

Thirty-six retiring faculty at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, were honored with the designation as faculty emeritus or emerita. Nine of the 36 retiring faculty members are women.

M. Francille Bergquist was named professor emerita of Spanish. She joined the faculty in 1977 and served as associate dean of academic affairs for the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Bergquist holds a Ph.D. from Texas Tech University.

Vera A. Stevens Chatman has served as a professor of the practice of human and organizational development at the Peabody College of Education. She has also taught at the university medical school and at Meharry Medical College, also in Nashville. Dr. Chatman holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Fisk University in Nashville and a Ph.D. in psychology and human development from Vanderbilt University.

Charlotte M. Covington was designated an associate professor of nursing emerita. She joined the faculty at the university’s nursing school in 1991 after serving for 20 years as a nurse. Covington holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from Vanderbilt University.

Kathleen V. Hoover-Dempsey was appointed professor of psychology emerita. She joined the university’s faculty in 1973. Professor Hoover-Dempsey’s research focuses on parental involvement in children’s and adolescents’ education. She is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, where she majored in political science. She holds master’s and doctoral degrees in educational psychology and child development.

Carolyn Hughes was named professor of special education emerita. She joined the faculty at Peabody College in 1991. Her research has been concentrated on the transition
 from
 school to adult
 life
 for
 students with 
disabilities. Dr Hughes is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. She holds a master’s degree from Montana State University and a doctorate in special education from the University of Illinois.

Jane Kirchner was appointed associate professor of flute emerita at the university’s Blair School of Music. She is a former member of the Nashville Symphony. For 18 years she served as associate dean of the Blair School of Music. Kirchner holds a bachelor’s degree and a master of music education degree from Vanderbilt University.

Jeanette J. Norden is professor of cell and developmental biology emerita. She joined the university’s faculty in 1978. In 2007, she completed a 36 lecture DVD, Understanding the Brain, as part of the Great Courses series for The Teaching Company in an effort to help inform the public about the brain and common neurological disorders. A lecture series has been established in her honor at the Vanderbilt Brain Institute.

Ronnie J. Steinberg was named professor of sociology emerita. She came to Vanderbilt in 1997 as a professor of sociology and director of the women’s studies program. Previously, she taught at Temple University in Philadelphia. Dr. Steinberg is a graduate of Bennington College in Vermont and holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in sociology from New York University.

Mary Theresa Urbano is professor of clinical pediatrics emerita. After serving as a public health nurse in Illinois and Florida, she joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 1999. She has also served on the faculty at the University of Miami and Florida State University. Dr. Urbano holds a bachelor’s degree and a doctorate in education from Florida State University. She earned a master’s degree in public health nursing from the University of North Carolina