What is an Endowed Position?

An endowed chair, professorship or fellowship is one of the highest academic honors that the University can bestow on a faculty member, and it lasts for as long as the University exists. It is both an honor to the named holder of the position and an enduring tribute to the donor who establishes it.

The Benefits:

To the University
Endowed positions are crucial for recruiting and retaining the highest-quality faculty. The greatest institutions have the best minds, the most creative researchers and the most engaged teachers. Building a strong base of faculty talent enriches the academic environment, which attracts the brightest students. These positions also foster attention from media and industry circles from all over the world.

To the Professors
Recognizing the continued contributions of senior-level faculty as well as providing funds to support their work are key functions of endowed positions. The funds can propel research and create opportunities for collaboration with scholars around the world.

To the Students
One professor or chair can touch hundreds of lives through the courses they teach, the students they mentor or through their own academic work. Having endowed faculty means students get to interact with the most talented scholars in the world. They do not learn only from textbooks, but from the real world of innovation and discovery.

To Private Donors
Donors provide funds for the overall improvement of the University, but some have personal interests in specific areas of study. By funding endowed chairs, professorships and fellowships, donors can convene the brightest minds to focus on particular problems or issues and spur advances in those areas.