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The Rev. Gary White, interim director of religious life at Vanderbilt University, has been named to the position permanently.

In his new role, White will coordinate religious affairs, work with affiliated chaplains and student religious organizations, direct the college’s Interfaith Ministries and provide pastoral care and counseling for students, faculty and staff.

White received his Master of Divinity degree, with a concentration in Pastoral Theology and Care, from Vanderbilt Divinity School in May of 1995. His professional ministerial career began as coordinator of the award-winning Interfaith CARE team program at Nashville CARES, and eventually became Faith in Action Coordinator in St. Helens, Ore.

In 2000, he returned to Vanderbilt as the associate university chaplain, a position that evolved into the associate director of religious life, until August 2009, when he was appointed interim director.

The Office of Religious Life also oversees the operation of two chapels and administers values and issues-oriented programs. White serves on the university's Critical Incident Stress Management team and is a “trained trainer” in pastoral crisis intervention through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation.

White also is advisor to the Interfaith Council, and works closely with the Holocaust Lecture Series and Project Dialogue. He is a frequent guest speaker for various religious communities throughout the region.