James F. Blumstein, Edward L. Rubin and W. Kip Viscusi were among 23 University Distinguished Professors honored Jan. 11 at a celebration hosted by Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and Provost C. Cybele Raver.
The title University Distinguished Professor is awarded to exceptional scholars and teachers whose work extends beyond traditional academic fields and disciplinary lines.
Blumstein was the first member of the law faculty to be awarded the title of University Professor in 2003 and also the first to receive a second tenured appointment at the School of Medicine. He directs the Vanderbilt Health Policy Center at the Law School and also holds an appointment at Owen Graduate School of Management. He joined Vanderbilt’s law faculty in 1970.
Viscusi co-directs the Ph.D. Program in Law and Economics, which is based at the Law School. He was appointed University Distinguished Professor in 2006 when he joined Vanderbilt’s faculty to launch the pioneering Ph.D. program. He holds faculty appointments at the Law School and Owen Graduate School of Management and in the Department of Economics.
Rubin received the prestigious title in 2009 after serving for four years as Dean of Vanderbilt Law School. A scholar of administrative law, constitutional law and legal theory, he also holds an appointment in the Department of Political Science.
University Distinguished Professors are selected for their record of extraordinary accomplishment in research and teaching, their promise for continued contributions, and their demonstrated intellectual leadership in bringing together diverse segments of the University in both research and teaching. They hold primary appointments in at least two schools of the University.