Our Donors

Penn Arts & Sciences is pleased to recognize the generous donors who make these named positions possible.

David C. Abrams, C’83, PAR’12, PAR’15, and Amy L. Abrams, PAR’12, PAR’15

Avalon Foundation

This chair was established in 1966 by the Avalon Foundation (now the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation) to support the study of the humanities.

David C. Abrams, C’83, PAR’12, PAR’15, and Amy L. Abrams, PAR’12, PAR’15

Rebecka and Arie Belldegrun, parents

This directorship was established by Rebecka and Arie Belldegrun to support the Penn Arts & Sciences co-director of the Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management.

David C. Abrams, C’83, PAR’12, PAR’15, and Amy L. Abrams, PAR’12, PAR’15

Estate of Albert A. Berg

Albert A. Berg established this professorship in 1951 through his estate to support the teaching of religious thought.

David C. Abrams, C’83, PAR’12, PAR’15, and Amy L. Abrams, PAR’12, PAR’15

Blanchard Family

Anna, Harriet, and Maria Blanchard established the Blanchard Professorship in 1907 to advance research and study in the Department of Chemistry.

David C. Abrams, C’83, PAR’12, PAR’15, and Amy L. Abrams, PAR’12, PAR’15

Nancy L. Blank

The Robert S. Blank Presidential Professorship was established in 2017 by Nancy L. Blank in memory of her husband, Robert S. Blank, L’65. Mr. Blank was an Emeritus Trustee at Penn.

David C. Abrams, C’83, PAR’12, PAR’15, and Amy L. Abrams, PAR’12, PAR’15

David and Mary Boies

David and Mary Boies established this chair in 2003 in memory of Mr. Boies’s father, who was a high school history teacher.

Christopher H. Browne, C’69

Christopher H. Browne, C’69

The late Christopher H. Browne, C’69 served as the former chair of the Board of Advisors at Penn Arts & Sciences and as a Trustee of the University.

Eugenio and Giuliana Calabi & The Simons Foundation

Eugenio and Giuliana Calabi & The Simons Foundation

The Calabi-Simons Professorship in Mathematics and Biology was established jointly by The Simons Foundation and Eugenio and Giuliana Calabi to recruit a faculty member to hold a joint appointment between the Departments of Biology and Mathematics.

Clarence H. Clark

Clarence H. Clark

The Clark Chair was established in 1902 by Edward White Clark and Clarence H. Clark.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Class of 1939

The Class of 1939 Professorship was established in 1989 in conjunction with the Class of 1939’s 50th reunion, to support a distinguished professor in Penn Arts & Sciences.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Class of 1940

The Class of 1940 Bicentennial Endowed Term Chair was established by the Class of 1940 at its fiftieth reunion to honor outstanding young professors at Penn.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Class of 1942

The Class of 1942 established this endowed term chair at its 50th reunion to recognize Penn faculty members who have made significant contributions to both scholarship and undergraduate teaching.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Class of 1965

The Class of 1965 Term Chair is one of five chairs established in 1990 in honor of their 25th Reunion.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Joseph M. Cohen, W’59

Joseph M. Cohen, W’59 established this chair in 1990 to recognize a distinguished scholar in economics.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

College for Women Class of 1963

The College for Women Class of 1963 established this endowed term chair in 1989 to honor the role of women as scholars, teachers, and students at the University of Pennsylvania.

Charles Day and William L. Day

Charles Day and William L. Day

The Charles and William L. Day Distinguished Professorship was created in 1973 with funds from the estate of Charles Day; a gift from William L. Day in honor of his father, Charles; and memorial gifts in honor of William L. Day.

Donner Foundation

Donner Foundation

The Donner Professorship of Physical Sciences was established in 1958 by the Donner Foundation, now known as the Independence Foundation.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Craig W. Effron, W’81

The James W. Effron University Professorship was established in 2005 through a gift of Craig W. Effron, a 1981 Penn graduate.

Nan and James Farquhar, LAR’39

Nan and James Farquhar, LAR’39

The late Nan and James Farquhar, LAR’39, both prominent supporters of art history at Penn, established this professorship in art history in 1988.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

John H. Fassitt Trust

The chair was established in 1993 by the John H. Fassitt Trust to support faculty member in Penn Arts & Sciences.

Richard L. Fisher, C’63, G’67

Richard L. Fisher, C’63, G’67

The late Richard L. Fisher, C’63, G’67, established this chair in 1989 to support a faculty member of outstanding character and ability with a particular interest in English.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Reese W. Flower

This chair was established in 1892 through the bequest of Reese Wall Flower.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Stephen M. Gorn Family Foundation

The Stephen M. Gorn Family Assistant Professorship was established in 2008 by the Stephen M. Gorn Family Foundation for a preeminent scholar and teacher in the Department of English at Penn Arts & Sciences.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Richard D. Green, W’52

The Richard D. Green University Professorship is a gift of the late Richard D. Green, a 1952 graduate of The Wharton School.

Stephen J. Heyman, W’59

Stephen J. Heyman, W’59

Stephen J. Heyman, W’59, together with his wife, Barbara, created the Bess W. Heyman Professorship in 1989 to honor his mother and the I. George Heyman University Professorship in 2010 to honor his father.

Harry P. Kamen, C’54

Harry P. Kamen, C’54

The late Harry P. Kamen, C’54, established this chair in 2002 to support the study of economics. Kane is a former Penn Arts & Sciences Board of Advisors member.

William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust

William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust

The Kenan Professorships were established in 1970 to support scholars and teachers of distinction whose enthusiasm for learning, commitment to teaching, and interest in students make notable contributions to the undergraduate community.

Paul K. Kelly, C’62, WG’64

Paul K. Kelly, C’62, WG’64

Paul K. Kelly, C’62, WG’64, established this chair in 2002 to honor an outstanding member of the English faculty who is committed to creating a culture of writing on campus.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Josephine Rankin Kennedy

The Davidson Kennedy chair was established in 1994 by the late Josephine Rankin Kennedy and is named in memory of her husband.

James Joo-Jin Kim, W’59, G’61

James Joo-Jin Kim, W’59, G’61

James Joo-Jin Kim, W’59, G’61, established the James Joo-Jin Kim Professorship in Economics in 2001 to support a preeminent scholar and teacher in the Department of Economics.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Alumni & Friends of Lawrence R. Klein

This professorship was created in 1991 in honor of Lawrence R. Klein, a Benjamin Franklin Professor Emeritus of Economics and Nobel laureate in economic sciences.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Scott M. Klein

Scott M. Klein established the Klein Family Presidential Professorship in 2021.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

David M. Knott, C’67, WG’73

The David M. Knott Professorship of Global Politics and International Relations was established by the late David M. Knott, C’67, WG’73.

Natalie I. Koether, CW’61, L’65

Natalie I. Koether, CW’61, L’65

The late Natalie I. Koether, CW’61, L’65 served Penn as a trustee and was emeritus chair of the Board of Overseers at Penn Arts & Sciences.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Korea Foundation

The Korea Foundation Professorships were established by the Korea Foundation in 1997.

Gustave C. Kuemmerle, C’1898

Gustave C. Kuemmerle, C’1898

Upon his death in 1957, Gustave C. Kuemmerle, C’1898, left the bulk of his estate to the University of Pennsylvania.

Leonard A. Lauder, W’54

Leonard A. Lauder, W’54

Leonard A. Lauder, W’54, is a University of Pennsylvania Emeritus Trustee and co-founder and Governor of the Lauder Institute.

Nina Lea

Nina Lea

The Henry Charles Lea Professorship in History was established in 1928 through the estate of Nina Lea in memory of her father, Henry Charles Lea (1825-1909), a noted Philadelphia historian, publisher, activist and civic reformer.

Jerry Lee

Jerry Lee

The Jerry Lee Professorship in Criminology was established in 2003 by Jerry Lee through The Jerry Lee Foundation to support the recruitment of faculty in the field of criminology.

Howard S. Marks, W’67

Howard S. Marks, W’67

The Howard Marks Professorship in Economic History was established in 2012 by Howard S. Marks, W’67, and his wife, Nancy.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

McLean Contributionship

The R. Jean Brownlee Endowed Term Chair was established by the McLean Contributionship under the direction of the late William L. McLean, III and his wife.

Robert L. McNeil, Jr.

Robert L. McNeil, Jr.

The late Robert L. McNeil, Jr. established this directorship in 1994 in honor of the McNeil Center’s founding director, Richard S. Dunn.

David C. Abrams, C’83, PAR’12, PAR’15, and Amy L. Abrams, PAR’12, PAR’15

Ruth Meltzer

The late Ruth Meltzer established this Directorship in Jewish Studies in 2001.

Margy Ellin Meyerson, G’93

Margy Ellin Meyerson, G’93

This chair was endowed by Margy Ellin Meyerson, G’93, in memory of her husband, Penn President Emeritus Martin Meyerson, HON’70.

Andrea Mitchell, CW’67

Andrea Mitchell, CW’67

Andrea Mitchell, CW’67 and her husband, Alan Greenspan, HON’98, have endowed two University Professorships.

Roy F. and Jeannette P. Nichols

Roy F. and Jeannette P. Nichols

The Roy F. and Jeannette P. Nichols Chairs of American History were established by the late Roy and Jeannette Nichols, longtime members of the history faculty.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Penn Museum

The Penn Museum established these two chairs to honor the legacy and contributions of Robert H. Dyson, Jr. and Eckley Brinton Coxe, Jr. Dyson, a noted archaeologist, teacher, and administrator served Penn for over forty years, including a twelve-year term as director of the Penn Museum.

Richard C. Perry, W’77

Richard C. Perry, W’77

Richard Perry, W’77, gave the inaugural gift in support of the Penn Integrates Knowledge (PIK) initiative, a cornerstone of former Penn President Amy Gutmann’s vision for propelling Penn from excellence to eminence.

Arthur Hobson Quinn

Arthur Hobson Quinn

This chair was established anonymously in 2002 and named in memory of Arthur Hobson Quinn, an 1894 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania who went on to become an English professor and preeminent scholar of American drama.

Donald T. Regan, Hon’72

Donald T. Regan, Hon’72

This professorship is named for the late Donald T. Regan, Hon’72 who had an impressive career as an executive at Merrill Lynch, secretary of the treasury, and chief of staff for President Ronald Reagan.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

G. Frederick Roll, W’34

This professorship was established through the bequest of G. Frederick Roll, W’34 and is named in honor of Francis E. Johnston, a biological anthropologist and an emeritus professor of anthropology at Penn.

Thomas Alexander Scott

Thomas Alexander Scott

The Thomas A. Scott Professorship of Mathematics was established in 1881 by Thomas Alexander Scott, who served as the nation’s assistant secretary of war from 1861 until 1862 and later became president of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Henry Seybert

This chair is one of the oldest endowed chairs at Penn Arts & Sciences, having been established in 1883 through the estate of Henry Seybert.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

David Shapiro, GM’47

This chair was established in 1992 by the late David Shapiro, GM ’47, in memory of his daughter, Frances Shapiro-Weitzenhoffer, C65.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

The Sheerr Family

The Stanley I. Sheerr Term Professorship in the Social Sciences is named for the late Stanley I. Sheerr, W’37, the former chairman of Crown Textile Company.

The Sobti Family, Alumni & Friends

The Sobti Family, Alumni & Friends

The Madan Lal Sobti Chair for the Study of Contemporary India was established through the generosity of numerous alumni, parents, and friends of the University.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Florence Sayre Skinner

Florence Sayre Skinner established this chair in 1967 in memory of her husband, James M. Skinner, ChE’11, to recognize a scholar for his or her contributions to science.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Society of Alumni

One of the older endowed professorships at Penn Arts & Sciences, this chair was established in 1914 by the Society of Alumni to support the study of Greek.

Saul P. Steinberg, W’59

Saul P. Steinberg, W’59

The late Saul P. Steinberg, W’59 was an Emeritus Trustee of the University of Pennsylvania and Chair Emeritus of the Board of Overseers at the Wharton School.

Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania

Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania

The Sheldon and Lucy Hackney Professorship in History was created in 1993 by the University’s Board of Trustees in honor of Sheldon Hackney, then the outgoing president of Penn, and his wife, Lucy, for their many years of devoted service to the University.

Fredrick J. Warren, ME’60, WG’61

Fredrick J. Warren, ME’60, WG’61

Fredrick J. Warren, ME’60, WG’61 created this chair in 1989 to support a Penn Arts & Sciences faculty member with expertise in demography and population studies.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

M. Mark and Esther K. Watkins

The late M. Mark and Esther K. Watkins established this chair in 1969 to support an accomplished teacher who shows potential as a leader in his or her field.

George A. Weiss, W’65, HON’14

George A. Weiss, W’65, HON’14

In 2010, George A. Weiss, W’65, HON’14, together with his wife, Lydia, endowed four Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professorships, adding to his extensive philanthropic legacy of support for Penn’s highest priorities.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Friends of John Welsh

The John Welsh Centennial Professorship in History and English Literature was created in 1877 and was one of the first three named professorships endowed at Penn.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

James L. Wood, C’1887

This chair was established in 1947 through a bequest from James L. Wood, C’1887 in memory of his mother, Mary Amanda Wood. James Wood was a well-known landscape artist.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Charles K. Williams, GR’78, HON’97

The Morris Russell and Josephine Chidsey Williams Professorship in Roman Architecture was established in 1988 by Charles K. Williams, GR’78, HON’97, in honor of his parents.

Karen Clark Brush, W’82 and David M. Brush, C’82

Paul C. Williams, W’67

Paul C. Williams, W’67, established the Robert I. Williams Endowed Term Chair in memory of his father, and the Patricia M. Williams Term Chair in honor of his mother.

Dick Wolf, C’69

Dick Wolf, C’69

Dick Wolf, C’69 established this professorship in 2007, he has also generously supported the Cinema Studies program at Penn Arts & Sciences.

Nancy Yang, W’92

Nancy Yang, W’92

Nancy Yang, W’92 is the Founder of Asian Charity Services, a Hong Kong NGO dedicated to providing NGO leaders with pro bono consulting and training to grow their organizations.

William Zellerbach, W’42

William Zellerbach, W’42

The late William Zellerbach, W’42, former University Trustee, created this chair in 1977 to support a prominent scholar whose public policy work is innovative and has humanistic and social relevance.