Leadership

Senior Leadership

  • John Kuriyan

    Dean of the School of Medicine Basic Sciences

    Profile

  • Charles Sanders

    Vice Dean of Basic Sciences

    Professor Chuck Sanders

    View profile

  • Walter Chazin

    Senior Associate Dean for Biomedical Research Education and Training

    Walter Chazin, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Professor of Chemistry, and Chancellor's Chair in Medicine in the School of Medicine.

    View profile

  • Alyssa Hasty

    Senior Associate Dean for Faculty

    View profile

  • Vivian Gama

    Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusive Mentoring

    DEI website

    View profile

  • Claudia Paz

    Chief Business Officer, Associate Dean for Finance and Administration

    View profile

  • Amy Major

    Faculty Director for Immersion Vanderbilt for the School of Medicine

    View profile

  • Tiffany Lawrence Givens

    Chief of Staff, Assistant Dean for Administration

    Tiffany Lawrence Givens is the assistant dean for administration. In her previous position as director of human resources, a position she has held since May 2022, Lawrence Givens played a pivotal role in developing and implementing the organizational structure of the school. Her strategic approach has enhanced operational efficiency across units and among faculty and staff. As assistant dean for administration, Lawrence Givens will add high-level strategic and operational leadership to the School of Medicine Basic Sciences.Lawrence Givens joined the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in November 2015. During her tenure, she was promoted to senior administrative assistant for human resources. In this capacity, she routinely reviewed department operations to improve processes in a frequently changing environment. In July 2017, Lawrence Givens transitioned to the university as a human resources professional for the School of Medicine Basic Sciences and was promoted to director in May 2022. Throughout this time, she demonstrated adeptness in developing strategies and communications that enhanced Basic Sciences HR policies and processes.Lawrence Givens served as University Staff Advisory Council president from 2021 to 2022, vice president from 2020 to 2021 and membership committee co-chair from 2019 to 2020. She has been a member of the Basic Sciences Dean’s Mental Health and Wellness council and the Vanderbilt University Staff Women’s Advancement and Equity council since both were established.Before joining Vanderbilt, Lawrence Givens held roles in accounting, recruiting, and marketing. She was an academic adviser and assistant director of advising at Loyola University Chicago from 2003 to 2011.Lawrence Givens received her master of science in human resources from Loyola University Chicago and her master of education in human services and counseling from DePaul University.

    View profile

Departmental Chairs

Core, Center, and Institute Directors

Administrative Leadership

  • Selene Colon

    Selene Colon

    Assistant Dean for Research

  • Brigitta Jozefowski

    Brigitta Jozefowski

    Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration

  • Mary Heath

    Mary Heath

    Senior Assistant Dean for Strategic for Research Administration, Core Services and Strategic Initiatives

  • Felysha Jenkins

    Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    School of Medicine Basic Sciences DEI

  • Marissa Shapiro

    Marissa Shapiro

    Director of Communications

  • Anthony Tharp

    Anthony Tharp

    Assistant Dean of Facilities, Infrastructure and Risk Management

  • Kimberly Turner

    Kimberly Turner

    Assistant Dean for Administrative Operations