Nicholas S. Zeppos was named Vanderbilt University’s eighth chancellor on March 1, 2008. He also serves as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs and professor of law.

A distinguished legal scholar, teacher and executive, Zeppos has served since 2002 as Vanderbilt’s chief academic officer, overseeing the university’s undergraduate, graduate and professional education programs and research in liberal arts and sciences, engineering, music, education, business, law and divinity. As provost and vice chancellor, he chairs Vanderbilt’s budgeting and capital planning council and leads all fundraising and alumni relations efforts across the institution, as well as overseeing the dean of students and dean of admissions.

Zeppos has led a number of important initiatives at Vanderbilt, including the planning process for The Commons, a landmark transformation of the first year experience, the Strategic Academic Planning Group, innovative efforts in undergraduate admissions and financial aid, and the development of new programs in Jewish studies, law and economics, and genetics, among others. He also has led the university’s Shape the Future fund-raising campaign, which exceeded its $1.25 billion goal two years ahead of schedule and set a new target of $1.75 billion by 2010.

Zeppos joined the Vanderbilt community in 1987 as an assistant professor in the Law School, where he has won five teaching awards. He subsequently served as an associate dean, associate provost, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs in 2002. He served as interim chancellor of the university from August 1, 2007, until March 1, 2008, when he was appointed chancellor.