I second Chad’s hearty approval of Vanderbilt’s appointment of former provost Nick Zeppos to chancellor. Though Gordon Gee’s fundraising prowess was phenomenal, he preferred selling a grand vision to following through on the details, and ultimately left before seeing his transformations complete. Like Chad, I also found Gee false and politic in our interactions (and he never remembered my name, either).
Nick, in contrast, was always sincerely friendly and interested in hearing students’ views even when they were opposed to the administration’s long-term plans. He’s been with the university as a law professor, provost, and chief development officer. Now that Vanderbilt has so many changes underway, I can’t think of a better guy to have at the helm.
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Jacob Grier is a freelance writer, barista, mixologist, and magician in Portland, OR. He writes, eats, and drinks a lot. His articles have appeared in The Washington Post, Reason Online, The Oregonian, and other publications.
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His contributions to Vanderbilt aside, Gee not only remembered by name despite out infrequent interactions, but once pointed out that I had grown a beard. I fell in love with him immediately.
Gee didn’t expell me when a certain incident involving his umtimely demise happened. I fell in love with him immediately.
That said, I never really bought into his grand vision of residential colleges. So, yeah, go Zeppo.