Two Black Scholars Appointed to Endowed Chairs at Vanderbilt University in Nashville

Bunmi O. Olatunji was appointed to the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Chair in Social and Natural Sciences at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Dr. Olatunji’s primary research interest lies in cognitive behavioral theory, assessment, and therapy for anxiety disorders. He is the director of the Emotion and Anxiety Research Laboratory (EARL) at the university and serves as associate editor of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Dr. Olatunji joined the faculty at Vanderbilt in 2006.

Professor Olatunji is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Arkansas.

Duane G. Watson was appointed to the Frank W. Mayborn Chair at Peabody College. Dr. Watson is a professor of psychology and human development and has been serving as faculty advisor for inclusive excellence at Peabody College. He also serves as director of the Communication and Language Lab (CALL) at the university. Professor Watson joined the faculty at Vanderbilt in 2016 after teaching at the University of Illinois.

A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Dr. Watson is a graduate of Princeton University in New Jersey, where he majored in psychology. he earned a Ph.D. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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