Six Women Appointed to Endowed Chairs at Vanderbilt University in Nashville

Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, recently announced the appointment of 13 faculty members to endowed chairs. Six of these appointments were awarded to women.

Nancy J. Cox was appointed to the Mary Phillips Edmonds Gray Chair in the School of Medicine. She also serves as director of the Vanderbilt Genetic Institute and the Division of Genetic Medicine. She joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 2015 after teaching at the University of Chicago. Professor Cox earned a Ph.D. in human genetics at Yale University.

Karen M. Joos was named to the Joseph N. and Barbara H. Ellis Family Chair in Ophthalmology in the School of Medicine. Her research is focused on advanced treatment for children and adults with glaucoma, including the medical, laser and surgical treatment of glaucoma. Dr. Joos holds a bachelor’s degree, a medical degree, and a Ph.D., all from the University of Iowa.

Lisa A. Kachnic, professor and chair of the department of radiation oncology at the School of Medicine, was appointed to the Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair in Radiation Oncology. Before joining the Vanderbilt faculty she was chair of the department of radiation oncology and associate director of multidisciplinary cancer research at Boston University. Professor Kachnic is a graduate of Boston College and the Tufts University School of Medicine.

Cecelia Tichi was named the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English. Before coming to Vanderbilt in 1987, she taught at Boston University. Professor Tichi is the author of several books including Civic Passions: 7 Who Launched Progressive America (And What They Teach Us) (University of North Carolina Press, 2009). Dr. Tichi holds a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis.

Hilary A. Tindle was named to the William Anderson Spickard Jr. M.D. Chair in Medicine in the School of Medicine. She is the founding director of the Vanderbilt Center for Tobacco, Addiction, and Lifestyle. Dr. Tindle holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a medical degree from the University of Chicago. She also earned a master of public health degree from Harvard University.

Ingrid B. Wuerth was appointed to the Helen Strong Curry Chair in International Law at Vanderbilt Law School. She also serves as director of the International Legal Studies Program. Professor Wuerth joined the faculty in 2007 after teaching at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she majored in history and German. She earned her law degree at the University of Chicago.