Washington & Lee University names Burish new president
Thomas G. Burish, a faculty member at Vanderbilt University, was named Washington & Lee University's next president yesterday.
Burish, an expert on the psychology of cancer patients, will begin his new position July 1.
He will replace John Elrod, who died of cancer last July.
Laurent Boetsch, W&L's vice president for academic affairs, had been the acting president since Elrod's death.
After 10 years of serving Vanderbilt University, Burish resigned from his position as provost this month. He planned on leaving Vanderbilt this summer to pursue a college presidency.
Burish was selected from 150 candidates based in part on his experience with student alcohol abuse and faculty-student diversity.
"There was an outstanding pool of candidates, but by the end of the process, there was an overwhelming unity of opinion behind Tom Burish," said Prof. Harlan Beckley, a member of the selection committee, in an interview with the Roanoke Times.
Burish's credentials include his 11-year membership on the board of the American Cancer Society, where he led many research committees. He also has written four books and has published many other works.
Burish directed eight deans, the admissions, budget and faculty tenure processes and minority recruitment at Vanderbilt.
"He has the vision, energy, experience and institutional understanding to lead Washington & Lee ... to the forefront of its peers," W&L board chairman Frank Surface said to the Roanoke Times.
- Compiled by Deirdre Murphy
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