Vanderbilt's passion for thriving interdisciplinary research, teaching and mentoring across 11 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools, and numerous pathbreaking centers and institutes, make Vanderbilt a dynamic home for more than 1,800 faculty members.
Here, some of Vanderbilt's newest faculty members explain what sparked their enthusiasm about making Vanderbilt their new academic home.
Hussam Mahmoud, Craig E. Philip Endowed Chair and professor of civil and environmental engineering, director of the Vanderbilt Center for Sustainability, Energy and Climate
School of Engineering
Academic focus: Sustainable and resilient infrastructure in communities, technologies to fight wildfires and theories to understand how fires spread
Why Vanderbilt: "I was drawn by the opportunity to lead the new Vanderbilt Center for Sustainability, Energy and Climate to shape a bold, multidisciplinary vision to tackle pressing societal challenges. Few opportunities are more exciting than this," he said.
Sun-A Park, assistant professor of piano
Blair School of Music
Academic focus: Piano performance
Why Vanderbilt: "I was immediately inspired by the musical curiosity and passion I witnessed in the Blair students. I taught a master class and left more energized than when I walked in. That kind of mutual energy and investment is what great music-making is all about," Park said.
Jeff Gordon, assistant professor of law
Vanderbilt Law School
Academic focus: Tax law, federal budget law, energy law, law and industrial policy, and most directly, "finding solutions to financial and coordination bottlenecks that stymie the green transition"
Why Vanderbilt: "No other U.S. law school faculty is as invested in the study of industrial policy-the central topic of my research-as is Vanderbilt's faculty," Gordon said. "Between the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator and faculty's strengths in energy law and in financial regulation, this is the most exciting group of colleagues to challenge me and inspire new ideas."
Douglas Ribeiro, associate professor of the practice of human development counseling
Peabody College of Education and Human Development
Academic focus: Counselor education, clinical training and behavioral health workforce development
Why Vanderbilt: "I was drawn to Vanderbilt because of its strong commitment to both academic excellence and meaningful social impact. Since moving to Nashville in 2012, I've had the chance to work alongside graduates of the Human Development Counseling program and have seen the difference they're making in our community. Their work is truly transformational," Ribeiro said. "I've also been inspired by the faculty's focus on justice-oriented clinical training, which really resonates with my own calling to help prepare mental health professionals who can serve underserved communities with humility and competence."
Susannah Morey, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences
College of Arts and Science
Academic focus: Critical zone science such as outburst floods and landslides that quickly transport sediment across landscapes
Why Vanderbilt: "My department's equal emphasis on teaching and research was a huge draw for me. I love both and am really excited to get students excited about geoscience, especially rivers," Morey said.
Wenyu Wang, associate professor of finance
Owen Graduate School of Management
Academic focus: Corporate control and corporate governance and how firms reshape their boundaries through mergers and acquisitions, optimize their asset and liability structures, and design systems to monitor, incentivize and retain talent
Why Vanderbilt: "I was drawn to Vanderbilt for its strong academic reputation and its ambitious vision for growth. I'm particularly inspired by the opportunity to contribute to this next chapter," Wang said. "Another key factor was the chance to reunite with a former colleague from Indiana University who is now a full professor at Owen-someone I deeply respect and whose presence made the transition especially welcoming."
- Learn more about faculty support and opportunities through the Office of the Provost
- Get to know some of the new faculty hired in the 2024-25 academic year
