Academic Endowments

Endowed Academic Departments or Divisions

Endowed academic departments or divisions are established with a minimum gift of $1,000,000. Earnings from the endowment are used in perpetuity to support and enrich the educational mission of the endowed department or division.

The R. Rife and Carolyn Cole Saunders Division of Nursing

Endowed Chairs

Endowed academic chairs are established with a minimum gift of $750,000. Earnings from the endowment are used in perpetuity to attract and support outstanding professors and the departments in which they teach. Five endowed academic chairs have been established:

The Herman and Norma Walker Chair in Sociology
The Coughlin-Saunders Foundation Chair in Nursing – Dr. Kimberly Sharp
The Dixie Moss Music Department Enrichment Fund
The C. J. Cavanaugh Chair in Biology – Dr. Wade Warren
The Olive Ann Rau Chair in English – Dr. Cheryl D. Clark

Endowed Professorships

Endowed academic professorships are established with a minimum gift of $200,000. Earnings from the endowment are used in perpetuity to assist compensation of deserving professors. The following endowed academic professorships have been established:

The Bell South Professorship (Liberal Arts) – Dr. Gilbert Jones
The James C. Bolton Professorship in Management
The W. Peterson Carter, Sr. Professorship in Biblical Studies –
The John and Dot Colvin Distinguished Visiting Professorship in Religion
The Richard L. Crowell Professorship in Pre-Law –
The Carolyn Adams Dawson Professorship in Mathematics – Dr. David Simmons
The Erroll Dawson Distinguished Professorship in Social Work – Ms. Sheri Duffy
The Lyndon Dawson, Sr. Professorship in Religion – Dr. Argile Smith
The Donald Duggan Professorship in Religion
The Durham Family Professorship in Business
The John and Allie Fogleman Professorship in Religion – Dr. Michael Shepherd
The Ray Frye Professorship in Business – Dr. Arthur Mazhambe
The J.E. Hixson Professorship in English
The Hogan Family Professorship
The George F. Kirby Professorship in Chemistry – Dr. David Elliott
The Claude Kent Kirkpatrick Professorship in
Health and Physical Education – Dr. Carolyn Spears
The Edith Killgore Kirkpatrick Professorship in Music –
The McCormick-Huie Professorship in English/Journalism
The Hubert & Madolene D. Reding Professorship in Business – Dr. David Culp
The E.O. Wood Professorship in Communication Arts
The James A. Young Professorship in Religion –