Four Women Professors Appointed to Endowed Chairs at Vanderbilt University in Nashville

Vanderbilt University has appointed 11 faculty members to endowed chairs. Four of the appointments went to women.

Julie Barros was named the Julia Eleanor Blair Chenault Chair in Nursing. She joined the School of Nursing faculty in August 2020. Prior to this, Dr. Barroso was the associate dean of the faculty at the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing. Dr. Barroso is a graduate of Florida State University. She earned a master’s degree at the University of South Florida and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.

Alice C. Coogan was appointed to the Dorothy Beryl and Theodore R. Austin Chair in Pathology. Her research focuses on cytopathology and is primarily concerned with cervical cancer, thyroid cancer, and breast cancer. Dr. Coogan joined the faculty of Vanderbilt in 1997 from Duke University where she was an assistant professor of pathology and served as associate director of the department’s residency training program. Dr. Coogan earned her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and her medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Melissa R. Kaufman was named the Patricia and Rodes Hart Chair in Urologic Surgery. Her research concentrates on genitourinary reconstructive surgery, pelvic floor reconstructive surgery, urinary incontinence, urethral strictures, and urodynamics. Dr. Kauffman earned her medical degree at the University of Arkansas and completed her residency at Vanderbilt University.

María del Carmen Triana was appointed to the Cal Turner Chair in Moral Leadership. She is a professor of management. Prior to joining Vanderbilt University in 2020, Professor Triana taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for 12 years. Dr. Triana earned a bachelor’s degree and a Ph.D. in organizational behavior and human resources at the University of Texas at Austin. She also holds an MBA from the University of Arizona.