Faculty Director

Kelly Goldsmith - Faculty Director

Kelly Goldsmith is the E. Bronson Ingram Chair, a full professor, the Marketing Area Coordinator, and award-winning teacher and researcher in the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt. She recently received both the Research Productivity Award (2021) and the Dean’s Award for Teaching (2020), in addition to being recognized as a Chancellor’s Faculty Fellow.  

Prior to coming to Vanderbilt, she obtained her undergraduate degree from Duke University and her Ph.D. in Behavioral Marketing from Yale University. She then worked at the Kellogg School of Management as a marketing professor for eight years, where she was a highly decorated researcher and teacher, receiving several awards including the Richard M. Clewett Research Chair, the McManus Research Chair, the Sidney J. Levy Award for Excellence in Teaching (2012, 2014), and two Faculty Impact awards.  

She lives in Nashville with her husband and their twins.  

Leigh Gilchrist - Associate Faculty Director

Leigh Z. Gilchrist is an Associate Professor of the Practice and Director of Undergraduate Studies in Human and Organizational Development at Peabody College.  She received her M.Ed. in Human Development Counseling and her doctorate in Higher Education Administration both degrees from Vanderbilt University. She has taught throughout the HOD program in courses that include health service delivery to diverse populations, small group behavior, mental health and mental illness, non-profit leadership, service-learning, and college student development.

Leigh’s research and practice interests focus on experiential education in both higher education and secondary education with particular focus on service-learning and community engagement. She has published and presented on a variety of topics exploring the relationship between academic service-learning and features such as academy-community partnerships, student development, servant leadership, small group dynamics, program design, and assessment.

As a consultant, Leigh works with local and national non-profits in the area of organizational systems, professional development, and program design. She also enjoys working with college and universities as well as K-12 institutions in developing their service-learning programs and their campus-community partnerships.

She lives in Brentwood, TN with her husband, two children, and dog.

The Ingram Scholarship Faculty Director serves as the spokesperson for the Ingram Scholarship Program, acting as a liaison between Vanderbilt administrators and members of the Ingram family directly involved with the program. They also oversee all aspects of the scholarship. The Faculty Director monitors each Scholar's fulfillment of the program requirements and works with Ingram Scholar Advisors and faculty in the development of various Ingram seminars and workshops. The Faculty Director is also directly involved in the selection of new Ingram Scholars. Finally, they regularly evaluate the program and implement changes consistent with the original vision of the program.

Former Faculty Directors

Brian L. Heuser (2017-2023)

Dr. Brian L. Heuser is an Assistant Professor of the Practice of International Education Policy in the Department of Leadership, Policy and Organizations (LPO) at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. Professor Heuser currently directs the International Leadership Development (ILD) track of the Human and Organizational Development (HOD) major, and teaches and advises in both the International Education Policy and Management (IEPM) masters program and Ed.D programs. His University work is strongly centered on faculty governance and institutional performance assessment.  

His academic and policy work has a strong emphasis on higher education internationalization and economic development. Dr. Heuser’s research interests include the role of universities in creating economic development, the effects of ethical social norms on social cohesion, and educational issues related to student learning outcomes and human development.  

Marshall C. Eakin (2009 - 2017)

Marshall Eakin is a historian of Latin America specializing in the history of Brazil.

Marshall has taught a wide variety of courses in history and Latin American studies at all levels, from first year undergraduates to Ph.D. candidates. These include Colonial and Modern Latin America, Brazilian Civilization, Visions of Amazonia, Reform and Revolution in Latin America, and the History Workshop.  On several occasions he has offered courses for the Vanderbilt Osher Lifelong Learning Program.  He has developed and taught interdisciplinary courses with faculty in Engineering, Divinity, and Peabody College.  Over the past 20+ years he has been deeply involved in service-learning courses and programs.

Marshall Eakin has taught at Vanderbilt since 1983. 

Joe Wehby (2014 - 2015)

Joe Wehby served as Interim Faculty Director from 2014 to 2015 while Marshall Eakin was on sabbatical. 

Dr. Joseph (Joe) Wehby currently is the chair of the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development. In addition, he is a researcher at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and the director of the National Center for Leadership in Intensive Intervention. Much of his research efforts have focused on evaluating the effectiveness of multicomponent mental health and academic tutoring interventions for students with significant behavior difficulties.

Ann M. Neely, Founding Director (1994 - 2009)

Ann Neely served as the Faculty Director for the Ingram Scholarship Program from 1994 - 2009. She served as an Associate Professor of Education in Peabody College until her retirement in 2020.

Before coming to Vanderbilt, Ann earned her B.S. and M.Ed. in Elementary Education at Auburn University. She then completed her Ed.D. at the University of Georgia.

Professor Neely has been a member of the Department of Teaching and Learning since 1985. From 1991-1996, Ann served as Assistant Provost and Director of Academic Affairs in Athletics. From 1987-1991, Ann served as Peabody College's Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs. Her research and scholarly interests are focused on children's literature, language and literacy, and elementary teacher education.