Jerry Fife, associate vice chancellor for business services and research finance at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., will serve as the university's acting vice chancellor for administration, effective Feb. 1.

Fife is the son of Paul and Peggy Fife of Bringhurst. He graduated from Carroll High School in 1970 and from Purdue University with a degree in management in 1974.

Fife began his career in research administration in 1975 at Purdue University. In 1985 he became director of sponsored programs administration at Mississippi State University and in 1990 he moved to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to become director of the Office of Contracts and Grants.

Fife came to Vanderbilt in 1998. There, Fife is responsible for the Occupational Health Clinic, the Child and Family centers, the Employee Wellness Center, the Employee Assistance Program, the Opportunity Development Center, Payroll and Benefit Processing, International Services, the Office of Contract and Grant Accounting, the Office of Student Accounts, Student Loans, Cashier's Office and University of Compliance.

He previously served as the interim associate vice chancellor for human resources and the assistant vice chancellor for information technology services.

Fife is a member of the Society of Research Administrators, has served as its treasurer and is on the board of directors of the Council on Governmental Relations. He is a past president of the National Council of University Research Administrators.