Background

Nicholas is a legal scholar, teacher, and higher education leader. He rejoined the Vanderbilt law faculty in 2020 after serving for more than a decade as the university's eighth chancellor. He joined the Vanderbilt law faculty in 1987 and served as a professor of law and associate dean before joining the university administration as associate provost for academic affairs and vice chancellor and provost. As chancellor, he was instrumental in launching the Opportunity Vanderbilt financial aid program and planning and executing the university's residential college system. He also oversaw the separation of Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center into distinct entities, ensuring long-term success for both. Zeppos more than doubled the number of endowed faculty chairs during his tenure and advocated for equity, diversity, and inclusion, creating the role of chief diversity officer for those efforts. He co-chaired the U.S. Senate Task Force on Government Regulation of Higher Education in 2015. Nicholas currently serves as a member of the board to the Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital.