Committees

The Faculty Senate is made up of eight committees, each given charges for the academic year.  

2024-2025 Committees

  • Academic Policies and Services (APS)

    To be concerned with new schools, new programs and new degrees. To consider policies regarding academic honors, leaves, grants, promotions, departmental and divisional chairmanships, programs abroad, the academic calendar, career planning and placement, Vanderbilt University Library, Information Services, the bookstore, and the University Press.

    Committee Members:
    1. EC Liaison: Peter Kolkay, Blair School (2025)
    2. Co-Chair: David Hyde, Engineering (2026)
    3. Co-Chair: Nabil Simaan, Engineering (2027)
    4. Alexis Finet, Arts & Science (2027)
    5. Matthew Lang, Engineering (2027)
    6. Dan Levin, Peabody (2025)
    7. Kristen Scarpato, School of Medicine (2025)
    8. Spencer Dowdall, Arts & Science (2027)
    9. Jason MacGurn, Basic Sciences (2025)
    10. Doug Christiansen (Ex Officio)
    11. Padma Raghavan (Ex Officio)
    12. Eric Cummings (Ex Officio)
    13. Duane Watson (Ex Officio)
    14. Tracy Sharpley-Whiting (Ex Officio)
  • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

    To be concerned with policies, programs, and practices that will ensure considerations of diversity, equity and inclusion in the Faculty Senate and in the University.

    Committee Members:
    1. EC Liaison: Pengfei Li, Arts & Science (2026)
    2. Chair: Debra Friedman, Medicine (2026)
    3. Nicole Cobb, Peabody (2025)
    4. Kelly Goldsmith, Owen (2025)
    5. Vicki Harris, Peabody (2027)
    6. Aimi Hamraie, Arts & Science (2027)
    7. Sara Horst, Medicine (2027)
    8. Ben Spiller, Medicine (2027)
    9. Jannyse Tapp, Nursing (2025)
    10. Sydney Savion (Ex Officio)
  • Faculty Life (FLC)

    To be concerned with policies relating to wages and salaries, fringe benefits, management of investments, employment of non-academic personnel, faculty intellectual property including copyrights and patents, buildings and grounds, space, campus communications, traffic, parking, food services, and campus security.

    Committee Members: 
    1. EC Liaison: Andrea Capizzi, Peabody (2027)
    2. Co-Chair: Susan Andrews, Nursing (2025)
    3. Co-Chair: Joerg Rieger, Divinity (2025)
    4. Leilani Acosta, Medicine (2026)
    5. James Booth, Peabody (2026)
    6. Christos Constantinidis, Engineering (2025)
    7. Dawn Iacobucci, Owen (2026)
    8. Emanuelle Oliveira-Monte, Arts & Science (2025)
    9. Rachel Sobel, Medicine (2027)
    10. ML Sandoz, Arts & Science (Guest of the Senate)
    11. Tom Verrier, Blair (Guest of the Senate)
    12. Tracey George (Ex Officio)
  • Faculty Manual (FMC)

    To be concerned with all changes and proposed changes to the Faculty Manual and changes in other University policies that have a direct bearing on the Faculty Manual. To be concerned with compliance and regulatory changes from federal/state agencies and other regulatory bodies that require revisions to the Manual. To be concerned with policy issues arising within the Colleges and Schools at Vanderbilt that require clarification of the Manual, especially where congruence between the Schools and University is concerned. To ensure that any changes to the Manual are clearly identified, communicated, and archived annually.

    Committee Members:

    1. EC Liaison: Andrea Capizzi, Peabody (2027)
    2. Chair: Louis Gerrard, Medicine (2026)
    3. Christopher Baron, Medicine (2027)
    4. Joseph Fishman, Law (2026)
    5. Timothy Geiger, Medicine (2027)
    6. Jason R Harris, Arts & Science (2027)
    7. Jonathan Sprinkle, Engineering (2025)
    8. Donald Brady (Ex Officio)
    9. Tracey George (Ex Officio)
  • Grievances (GrC)

    To be concerned with grievances arising under Part IV, Chapter 2, Section B of the Faculty Manual (those that arise from issues other than reappointment, tenure, and promotion).

    Committee Members:

    1. EC Liaison: Alissa Hare, Arts & Science (2025)
    2. Chair: Katherine Carroll, Arts & Science (2025)
    3. Queen Henry-Okafor, Nursing (2027)
    4. Anthony Langone, Medicine (2027)
    5. Nina Martin, Peabody (2026)
    6. Sara Martin, Medicine (2025)
    7. Paul Miller, Arts & Science (2027)
    8. Ritu Bannerjee, Medicine (2025)
    9. Peter Chang, Medicine (2027)
    10. Leslie Hopkins, Nursing (2027)
  • Senate Affairs (SAC)

    To be concerned with all matters pertaining to the functioning of the Senate. Responsible for a continuing review of the Rules of the Senate, recommending new rules when appropriate, and assisting in the interpretation of existing rules. Considers proposed revisions of the Constitution of the Faculty Assembly and Senate when this duty is assigned by the Senate.

    Committee Members: 

    1. EC Liaison: Peter Kolkay, Blair (2025)
    2. Chair: Ahmad Taha, Engineering (2027)
    3. Allison Walker, Arts & Science (2026)
    4. Christina Hayhurst, Medicine (2026)
    5. Elise Boos, Medicine (2026)
    6. Paul Speer, Peabody (2027)
    7. Kelly Sopko, Medicine (2026)
    8. John Yang, Arts & Science (2026)
    9. Angel Anthamatten, Nursing (2027)
  • Strategic Planning and Academic Freedom Committee (SPAF)

    To be concerned with the impact of university-wide strategic planning on faculty self-governance and on the ability of faculty to perform their teaching, research and creative self-expression, service, and other professional responsibilities effectively. To be concerned with the policies regarding professional ethics, conscience, and academic freedom under Article II, Section 3e of the Senate Constitution.

    Committee Members:
    1. EC Liaison: Tamarya Hoyt, Medicine, Past Vice-Chair
    2. Chair: Amanda Rose, Law (2025)
    3. John Ayers, Arts & Science (2026)
    4. Buddy Creech, Medicine (2025)
    5. David Michaelson, Divinity (2027)
    6. Mariano Sana, Arts & Science (2026)
    7. Parul Goyul, Medicine (2026)
    8. Bethany Weise, Blair (2027)
  • Student Life (SLC)

    To be concerned with policies relating to student matters including residential colleges, rules and discipline, future composition of the student body, fraternities and sororities, intercollegiate athletics and club sports, intramurals, the Honor System, faculty-student relations, religious affairs, and the student health service.

    Committee Members:

    1. EC Liaison: Tyler Barrett, Medicine (2026)
    2. Chair: Joyce Johnson, Medicine (2025)
    3. Celina Callahan-Kapoor, Arts & Science (2025)
    4. Julio Ayala, Medicine (2026)
    5. Nathalie Debrauwere-Miller, Arts & Science (2027)
    6. Tim Hanusa, Arts & Science (2026)
    7. Brian Heuser, Peabody (2025)
    8. Piran Kidambi, Engineering (2026)
    9. Claudine Taaffe, Arts & Science (Guest of the Senate)
    10. GL Black (Ex Officio)
    11. Tiffiny Tung (Ex Officio)
    12. André Christie-Mizell (Ex Officio)