Vanderbilt University has named Timothy P. McNamara as the Ginny and Conner Searcy Dean of the College of Arts and Science. McNamara’s appointment for a two-year term follows McNamara’s service as interim dean since July 2023.

McNamara, whose appointment is effective July 1 pending approval from the Board of Trust Compensation Committee, holds the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Chair in Social and Natural Sciences. He will advance the mission of Arts and Science with priorities that include pursuing capital projects that provide research support and student support, further expanding the college’s portfolios in research and creative expression, implementing the college’s new core curriculum, recruiting new faculty, and supporting and recognizing existing faculty.

McNamara completed his undergraduate education at the University of Kansas and earned his doctorate in psychology from Yale University. He started his academic career at Vanderbilt in 1983 as instructor, just before finishing his Ph.D. McNamara was appointed assistant professor in 1984, associate professor in 1989 and professor in 1995.

McNamara is the principal investigator for the Spatial Memory and Navigation Lab. His research investigates human memory, cognition and decision making, with a particular focus on spatial processing. For example, he examines how spatial relations among objects in the environment are represented in memory and how these spatial memories are used to guide navigation. He has published articles in many peer-reviewed journals, including Psychological Review, Cognitive Psychology and Current Biology.

McNamara was elected a fellow of the American Psychological Association in 1994, the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1999, and the Association for Psychological Science in 2003.

McNamara has held multiple leadership roles at Vanderbilt, including having led the department of psychology as chair 1996-2004 and July 2022-23. He chaired the arts and science dean’s search committee in 2000 and the college’s strategic planning committee 2001-02.

McNamara was appointed associate provost for faculty in 2004, later becoming vice provost and adding responsibilities for global engagement and research. He also contributed significantly to the reorganization of Vanderbilt University–Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

McNamara received the Thomas Jefferson Award in 2019 “for distinguished service to Vanderbilt through extraordinary contributions as a member of the faculty in the councils and government of the university.”

Lewis to lead new office of Greenwood Capital

Greenwood Capital Advisors has launched with Nashville native Christopher Lewis as its founder. Greenwood Capital Advisors will be serving the Nashville, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Atlanta and Birmingham markets.

Lewis, a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the Vanderbilt Law School, has for several years served middle-market companies through M&A advisory and execution, as well as serving multiple clients via contract chief financial officer services.

Greenwood’s board of advisers includes Fintech leader Kevin Jones, health care specialist Sabin Ewing and Benny Word, an industrial engineer with experience in construction, real estate and municipal infrastructure.

Spon, Moore promoted at Ware Malcomb

Ware Malcomb, an award-winning international design firm, announced today the promotions of Greg Spon to principal and Rebecca Moore to director, interior architecture and design in the firm’s Nashville.

Spon joined Ware Malcomb in 2015 as a senior project architect in the firm’s San Diego office. He’s been promoted on three separate occasions including in 2022 when he was named regional director, overseeing the newly opened Nashville office and expanding the firm’s Southeast footprint.

Moore joined Ware Malcomb in 2023 as studio manager. She brings more than 22 years of experience and an extensive background in managing corporate, education, aviation, public safety and government projects in Tennessee and the Southeast region. Moore is a ULI and International Interior Design Association member and has earned NCIDQ certification.

McGraw joins Alive’s board of directors

Maggie McGraw has joined the board of directors of Alive, the only nonprofit hospice in Middle Tennessee.

McGraw is the special projects and government affairs manager at Earth League International, where she coordinates communications with government stakeholders to promote ELI’s mission. She also has served as a legislative aide for U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, assisting with the Senator’s foreign affairs and national security policy portfolios and managing the defense and veterans’ policy portfolios. She also served as a legislative assistant for the U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper.

McGraw holds a master’s degree in sustainability science and practice and a degree in earth systems, oceans, atmosphere and climate science from Stanford University.

Whiat named president At Hoffmann Brothers

Hoffmann Brothers, a family-owned and full-service home service provider, has selected Matt Whiat as its president.

Whiat most recently served as a senior partner and one of the founding partners of the Chapman & Co. Leadership Institute, a leadership consulting company within the Barry-Wehmiller organization. He also served for more than 20 years as a United States Air Force Officer with assignments on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, as a member of the United Nations to bring peace to Liberia in West Africa and with NATO partners for operations in Afghanistan.

He holds graduate degrees in finance, management and international relations and has an undergraduate background in industrial engineering and technology.

NursesMC names executive director

Nurses Middle College (NursesMC) has named Andrea Poynter, Ph.D., an assistant nursing professor at Belmont University, to lead the new nursing public high school with plans to open in Nashville in the fall of 2025.

Poynter has worked as a nurse for 17 years and has served as a nursing faculty member for 10 years, the past three years at Belmont University. Her academic research spans the health behaviors of African American women, the role of spirituality in health care and diversity in health care.

Poynter joins the NursesMC Nashville team alongside board members Mamie Williams, Tilita Shaw, Richard Zadd, Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, Shawanda Clay and Justin Testerman.

She earned her RN and Ph.D. at East Tennessee State University and her MSN and BSN at Austin Peay State University.

Veterinary association selects executive board

The Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association recently named its 2024-25 executive board, which is composed of veterinarians from across the state. The newly elected officers are:

President: Marisa Shulman, DVM, Riverview Animal Hospital, Chattanooga

President-elect: Cindy Schmidt, DVM, North Madison Animal Hospital, Jackson

Vice president: Michael Towns, DVM, Macon Trousdale Veterinary Services, Lafayette

Secretary/treasurer: Mary Chorney-Carter, DVM, retired, Fayetteville

Immediate Past president: Forrest Reynolds, DVM, Williamson County Animal Hospital, Franklin.

Six members-at-large were also elected to represent East, West and Middle Tennessee. They are: Karin Collins, DVM, Animal Wellness Vet Hospital, White Pine; Dean Baird, DVM, Mountain Empire Small Animal Hospital, Johnson City; Martin Sander, DVM, United Farm & Home Co-Op, Dickson; Whitney Wilhite-Jones, DVM, Old Hatchie Veterinary Clinic, Bolivar; Madeleine Hendrix, DVM, GoodVets Germantown, Nashville; and Cason McInturff, DVM, Cupola Animal Hospitals, Franklin.

Susan Moon, DVM, Brooks Road Animal Hospital, Memphis, is the AVMA delegate. Joe Ed Conn, DVM, Belle Meade Animal Hospital, Nashville, is the AVMA Alternate Delegate.

Heather Vaughn serves as the executive director for the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association.