“One professor can
change the world.”
John Nau, III
Campaign Co-Chair
FUELING MINDS THAT CHANGE THE WORLD
Endowed Chairs and Professorships
Faculty drive academic success and, of all the honors that can be bestowed upon a professor, an endowed chair or professorship is among the highest. The prestige and freedom to conduct creative, innovative research these funds provide is an ideal tool for advancing our University — and world-changing discoveries.
Supporting Boundless Discovery
Giving researchers an accurate map of our land via laser mapping, generating safe and sustainable offshore energy, and changing the way the world thinks about immigration is a snapshot of what our expert faculty are exploring at the University of Houston. Our reputation for surpassing the status quo is based, in large part, on the incredible research and study undertaken by our expert faculty each and every day. Just imagine the in-roads of innovation and discovery that can happen if our faculty are equipped with the tools and resources to venture further and beyond.
Attracting and Retaining Inspiration
This is why endowed chairs and professorships are so important. They are the highest honor faculty members can receive, serving as a lasting tribute to the donor and the person whom the donor may wish to honor. These endowed positions propel cutting-edge research, advance teaching and create opportunities for collaboration with scholars around the world. To continue fueling this think-tank, it is vital that we support our faculty in their endless pursuit of knowledge and discovery.
Upholding Tradition
The University of Houston is where it is today with the support of our alumni and friends who help us attract and retain inspiring teachers, noted scholars and groundbreaking researchers. Generous donors have extended this tradition of academic enrichment for 92 years, and we must continue building upon their legacy to sustain our vitality as a higher education institution of the 21st century.
| Faculty Position | Fund Requirements |
|---|---|
| Endowed Chair | $1 Million Minimum |
| Endowed Professorship | $500,000 Minimum |
| Endowed College Professorship | $250,000 Minimum |
| Term Professorship | $150,000 Minimum (over a 3 year period) |
* These endowment minimums may increase on September 1, 2020.
How Endowments Work
Endowments exist in perpetuity. In the case of endowed chairs and professorships, income from endowed gifts underwrites the faculty member’s salary and associated costs, such as research expenses, graduate fellowships, lab equipment, etc. The endowment will maintain a payout rate of approximately 4% to 5%, with any change to this range to be approved by the Board of Regents. The payout rate will be based as a percentage of the fiscal year end market value average over rolling twelve quarter periods.
Gift Matching
Endowed chairs and professorships may be eligible for a matching gift by the Texas Research Incentive Program (TRIP). The gift must be made in a minimum payment of $100,000 and be designated exclusively for research purposes. The match is provided in three categories:
| MATCHING LEVELS | |
|---|---|
| 50% Match | Cash gift of $100,000 to $999,999 |
| 75% Match | Cash gift of $1 million to $1,999,999 |
| 100% Match | Cash gift of $2 million to $10 million |
To learn how you can advance teaching and research through endowed chairs and professorships, please contact Russell Dunlavy, Assistant Vice President for University Development, at 713-743-4209.
Current Endowed Chairs and Professorships across 16 Colleges and University Libraries
Opportunities for Endowed Chairs and Professorships in the following colleges and area:
Kathrine G. McGovern
College of the Arts
Arts Leadership
Interdepartmental Endowed Professorship
Gerald D. Hines of Architecture
and Design
Sustainability
Endowed Professorship
C.T. Bauer College of Business
Accounting
Endowed Chairs and Endowed Professorships
Cullen College of Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Endowed Chair or Professorship
in Neuroscience
“I’m deeply grateful to The Huffington Foundation for their confidence in my work and to the college for their ongoing support and leadership.” “My commitment is to be the best possible steward of this gift by expanding the reach of my research and work and by mentoring Master of Social Work and Ph.D. students interested in this area of study. This is such an honor, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity.”
Brené Brown
Endowed Chair in the UH Graduate College of Social Work
A SUPERSTAR OF SUPERCONDUCTIVITY: DR. PAUL CHU
Professor Paul C.W. Chu, T.L.L Temple Chair of Science, leads the way in the exciting field of superconductivity. He and his team achieved this phenomenon at record-high temperatures and continue to reach higher temperatures and novel materials. Chu is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and a winner of the National Medal of Science and the International Prize for New Materials, among many other awards.
TEACHER AND BENEFACTOR: ROBERT E. SHERIFF
Robert E. Sheriff, professor in the University of Houston Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, believed in giving back to the field he loved. Over the years, he and Margaret Sheriff established four endowments at the University of Houston, giving nearly $2 million in support of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Although Professor Sheriff passed away in 2014, his gifts keep his memory alive by continuing to support other outstanding faculty members in geophysics.