While reflecting on his time as interim chancellor in the wake of Chancellor Gee's surprising resignation last August, Chancellor Zeppos was characteristically positive.

"I enjoyed my role as ‘iChancellor' and was deeply honored and thrilled to be elected Chancellor almost six months ago," said Zeppos. "Being named interim chancellor was a tremendous responsibility, a temporary but significant commitment to lead the university until our Board of Trust could elect a permanent Chancellor."

Zeppos was not the only administrator whose professional life at Vanderbilt was directly affected by Gee's departure. Richard McCarty, the dean of the College of Arts and Science, was almost immediately appointed to Zeppos' old positions as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. Caroline Dever, a former faculty member in the English department who has also been both the associate dean of graduate education and the executive dean of Arts and Science, was appointed the interim dean of Arts and Science.

Additionally, in June Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Michael Schoenfeld left his position for a job at Duke University, causing Associate Vice Chancellor Beth Fortune to be appointed as interim vice chancellor.

Both the dean of Arts and Science and vice chancellor for public affairs positions are going to be filled this year, according to McCarty and Fortune. National search committees, selected by Zeppos, will nominate two to three candidates from which Zeppos will select a permanent appointment.

McCarty's position was filled after an in-house search, and not a national one, resulting in an in-house hire similar to Zeppos' appointment.

"It was an internal appointment because the chancellor did not want to wait a year and a half to fill the position," McCarty said. "So the search was limited to Vanderbilt."

According to Zeppos, the selection process varies with each position.

"In order to make the best possible hiring decisions we explore all options and do not rush the process," Zeppos said. "On the other hand, when the best decision comes sooner than expected, we prefer to move quickly."

Zeppos and McCarty worked closely together during McCarty's seven-year tenure as dean, something McCarty says motivated him to accept the position.

"I've worked with Zeppos since I've arrived here, and I'd do anything to maintain that relationship," McCarty said.

While McCarty thanked Zeppos personally for the appointment in a Vanderbilt press release, he maintains Zeppos held the appropriate distance from the hiring process.

"He was very respectful of the search process, and given his experience as provost, he was not involved directly," McCarty said.

Zeppos' professional past with the university involved him working closely with Fortune, while McCarty has worked closely with Dever.

"(Dever) is doing a fantastic job," McCarty said. "I hope she'll be a candidate (for the permanent position). She would be a strong candidate."

For Dever and Fortune, the interim position represents different phases in their careers.
Dever sees the appointment as a sign of dedication to the institution in which she primarily sees herself as a member of the faculty.

"I was a very happy person in my old position. Being here is not about not being a faculty member - it's about being a good citizen of the college of Arts and Science," Dever said.

Fortune hopes the position will give her an opportunity to earn a possible candidacy for the permanent position, and in the meantime she says she is being very cautious in the types of changes she makes to prepare for the possibility she is not selected for the permanent position.

"I don't want to tie up the next person's hands," Fortune said.

While Fortune said she found discussing the interim position "awkward" she also said that although it made sense for her to have the interim position because of her eight years of experience and her familiarity with Nashville and the community, she is trying not to obsess over her chances of ultimately being hired.

"I'm not campaigning for the job and am completely comfortable in this role," Fortune said. "The decision is up to Chancellor Zeppos."

When asked if she would accept a permanent position as Dean of Arts and Science, Dever remained vague.

"I feel tremendously dedicated to this university, but we have a few weeks and months before we have to cross that bridge," Dever said.