Undoubtedly, the chief executive office at Vanderbilt, or any one of its peer institutions, is a demanding one to hold. Following the impressive and extremely visible tenure of Gordon Gee, the inherent difficulty of the chancellorship increases significantly.

In selecting Nicholas Zeppos to be the eighth chancellor at Vanderbilt, the Board of Trust reaffirmed the importance of a strong, ongoing relationship between administrator and student. While Zeppos may not be the most visible figure on campus, those who have met and spoken with him know him to be a genuine person who has the utmost regard and interest in the students on this campus. As chancellor, he is sure to continue this legacy of true friendship to the students he serves.

With the advent of The Commons in the fall, a plan Zeppos had a strong hand in designing and implementing, consistency in leadership is ever more necessary. Though the enterprise of The Commons is now a fixed cost, the benefits have yet to be realized; perhaps, if the Board had selected someone outside the university, that individual’s vision may not have had such strong ties to The Commons, potentially a huge detriment to the program in its infancy.

Some have voiced legitimate concerns about a potential short-term decline in fundraising. Hopefully, alumni will recognize in Zeppos the characteristics any organization seeks in a leader: integrity, compassion and a profound commitment to the institution he leads.

Modesty, sometimes a neglected virtue on a college campus, is nevertheless an admirable trait, particularly in an official. When Zeppos was asked to serve in the interim, the Board offered him the trappings of the chancellor’s office — the house, the car and the additional compensation — but he declined, only seeking to fulfill his obligation to the university. This is the type of person who cares foremost about our school and its community — the trait of a capable and valuable leader.