# Faculty Development Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · $232,938

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The goal of this proposal is to recruit and retain a racially diverse faculty workforce with a commitment to
diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), to reduce isolation through innovative social support and mentoring, and
to sustain inclusive excellence by preparing faculty members for leadership positions. Vanderbilt has
demonstrated its commitment to diverse leadership by hiring women into key administrative roles. However,
the hiring of diverse faculty by race and socioeconomic status has not kept pace. Through innovative
recruitment programs and professional relationships, Vanderbilt completed a 10-faculty cluster hire of racially
diverse early career scientists. Their individual research focus synergistically aligns with each other and
amongst the four Thematic Cores. To further support faculty diversity, Vanderbilt commits 3 institutional dollars
for each NIH FIRST dollar, facilitating the hire of at least 18 Vanderbilt FIRST (V-FIRST) faculty members.
Critical factors, such as support of senior faculty mentors, peer networking, professional skill development, and
a better understanding of institutional culture significantly enhances transition to promotion with tenure. In
addition, emphasizing leadership increases faculty retention and enables early career faculty (ECF) to become
administrative agents for sustainable cultural change. This proposal will demonstrate that deliberate career
advancement and community building opportunities within an academically rich collaborative environment will
lead to V-FIRST faculty promotion and retention. Furthermore, development of V-FIRST leadership skills will
optimize their transition into Vanderbilt administration, a key institutional sustainability element.
Aim 1. Ensure scholarly and professional career development in a robust intellectual community. The
Faculty Development Core (FDC) Leadership Team will ensure our V-FIRST recruits receive training in all
aspects of career development in a stage-appropriate manner. We will enhance V-FIRST mentoring through a
complementary cadre of diverse, nationally recognized senior scientists, as well as mid-career Vanderbilt
faculty members with a strong commitment to DEI. Aim 2. Create an environment of inclusive excellence
to reduce isolation and build community. The mentors and FDC Leadership Team will identify collaborative
and career advancement opportunities, as well as participate in common social interest activities. We will also
expand “safe spaces”, such as the Vanderbilt Breakfast Club, a monthly works-in-progress meeting led by UR
senior faculty and initiate a Senior UR Faculty Lecture Series (My Journey), to enhance scholastic productivity
and reduce isolation. Aim 3. Contribute to a sustainable inclusive community by preparing V-FIRST
faculty for leadership. Sustained institutional inclusive excellence requires leaders with clear DEI
commitment. We have created a personalized leadership program that will lay the foundation for V-F...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10852928
- **Project number:** 5U54CA280915-02
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Alyssa H Hasty
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $232,938
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-06-01 → 2025-03-21

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10852928

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10852928, Faculty Development Core (5U54CA280915-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10852928. Licensed CC0.

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