On the heels of his selection as Vanderbilt's 2026 Graduates Day speaker, Arthur C. Brooks-internationally acclaimed scholar, bestselling author and happiness researcher-will join the Vanderbilt faculty. A widely respected voice at the intersection of science, ancient wisdom and public life, he will serve as an endowed Professor of Medicine, Health and Society in the College of Arts and Science beginning July 1.
"By pairing distinguished scholarship with the rare ability to make his work accessible to everyone, Arthur Brooks has reshaped our understanding of happiness and the pursuit of a meaningful life," Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said. "His choice to join Vanderbilt signals once again that leading scholars see our university as a place where their work can reach its fullest potential. We are proud to welcome Arthur to our faculty."
Vanderbilt's focus on recruiting exceptional faculty cultivates a community of scholars who are not only leaders in their disciplines, but also deeply engaged in interdisciplinary discovery, teaching and mentorship. Across its 11 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools, plus its constellation of innovative centers and institutes, the university fosters an environment where ideas extend globally. Its passion for thriving, interdisciplinary research makes it a dynamic home for its more than 1,800 faculty members.
"I'm thrilled to join the faculty," Brooks said. "In the past several years, Vanderbilt has become an engine of idea entrepreneurship, a home for diversity of thought and a hub for interdisciplinary scholarship. This is the perfect setting for me to pursue my public education mission."
Brooks joins Vanderbilt with a vision to expand the university's reach beyond campus. He will focus on public-facing teaching and engagement that bring Vanderbilt's scholarship to broader audiences. His work will help redefine the great university of the 21st century-one that connects rigorous research with real-world application and global conversation.
Central to that effort, Brooks will contribute to executive education programs by partnering with leaders across sectors to explore purpose-driven leadership, well-being and fulfillment. The aim is to equip leaders with the best possible tools to improve society and culture-across for-profit, nonprofit, government and university life.
On campus, Brooks will teach a Maymester course for undergraduates that offers students a unique opportunity to study directly with one of the foremost thinkers on happiness and meaning.
"Arthur Brooks brings a rare and powerful combination of intellectual spark, moral clarity and public impact to Vanderbilt," Provost C. Cybele Raver said. "His work challenges us to think more deeply about what it means to live meaningful lives and to build institutions that support human flourishing. At a moment when society is searching for connection, purpose and well-being, his leadership will help propel Vanderbilt to the forefront of scholarship that not only advances knowledge but also transforms lives-on our campus and far beyond it."
In celebration of his appointment and his role as Graduates Day speaker, Vanderbilt will provide each graduating student with a complimentary copy of Brooks' newest book when they pick up their Commencement regalia at Vanderbilt Bookstore.
A PROFILE IN IMPACT
Brooks comes to Vanderbilt from Harvard University, where he served as the Parker Gilbert Montgomery Professor of the Practice of Public and Nonprofit Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and professor of management practice at Harvard Business School. His work centers on applying the highest levels of social science and ancient wisdom to help individuals lead lives of greater well-being.
A global thought leader on happiness and the pursuit of meaning, Brooks advises organizations across sectors on well-being and leadership. He's an expert on charitable giving who supports various nonprofits with his wife, Ester, and he has authored a widely read book on the topic, Who Really Cares.
He has authored 15 other books, including #1 New York Times bestsellers The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness, Build the Life You Want, co-authored with Oprah Winfrey, and From Strength to Strength, a widely influential exploration of purpose and success in life's second half.
Brooks previously served as president of the American Enterprise Institute, one of the nation's most prominent think tanks. Today, he is a contributor to CBS News, a columnist for The Free Press and host of the podcast Office Hours, where he engages audiences worldwide on questions of happiness and meaning.
Brooks' appointment is a significant milestone for Vanderbilt; it underscores the university's continued ascent as a destination for world-class scholars whose work resonates far beyond academia. Recent additions to the faculty include Susan Margulies, former assistant director of the U.S. National Science Foundation's Directorate for Engineering and a distinguished professor at the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Jason Merchant, a national leader in higher education and former vice provost for academic affairs at the University of Chicago.
