Since 2000, the Arts and Sciences Foundation has worked with five of Carolina’s Greek organizations to establish distinguished professorships, which allow the College to attract or retain outstanding teachers and scholars. These professorships help the College remain competitive among its peers for faculty who demonstrate excellence in undergraduate teaching, exhibit exceptional interpersonal and communication skills and make subject matter relevant to the lives of students.
The Delta Kappa Epsilon Distinguished Professorship
In 2000, the alumni of Delta Kappa Epsilon, the first Greek organization on campus, established the first of the Greek professorships to support a faculty member in the College who embodies excellence in undergraduate instruction. Edward “Tee” Baur, a ’68 alumnus,contributed the first $100,000 to the fund and played a strong leadership role in soliciting gifts for the professorship from Delta Kappa Epsilon alumni. He explained that the fraternity chose to support the College of Arts and Sciences over other schools because “that’s where most undergraduates are and where base learning really occurs.”
C. D. C. Reeve, a professor in the department of philosophy who specializes in ancient Greek philosophy, became the inaugural Delta Kappa Epsilon Distinguished Professor in 2005.
The Phi Delta Theta/Matthew Mason Distinguished Professorship
In 2001, the Phi Delta Theta/Matthew Mason Distinguished Professorship became the second endowed chair in the College of Arts and Sciences to be funded by a fraternity. Guided by Shoff Allison ’98 of Charlotte, 241 donors came together to create the Phi Delta Theta/Matthew Mason Distinguished Professorship, which honors both the fraternity and the late Matthew Mason of Chapel Hill, a long-time employee of the Phi Delta Theta house who was made a member of the fraternity later in his career. Garnett Smith ‘69 of Naples, Fla., gave a lead gift of $100,000, saying, “This professorship is a great way to support Phi Delta Theta and honor Matthew Mason.”
Dinesh Manocha, a professor in the department of computer science who specializes in computer graphics and geometric modeling, was named the inaugural Phi Delta Theta/Matthew Mason Distinguished Professor in 2006.
The Delta Delta Delta Distinguished Professorship
The Delta Delta Delta sorority created a distinguished professorship in the College of Arts and Sciences in 2005. Becky Cobey ’75 and 398 of her Delta Delta Delta sisters, Carolina graduates from 1944 to 2013, connected over the issue of retaining outstanding faculty. Cobey had heard about budget cuts and competitive battles for College faculty while participating in the Carolina Women’s Leadership Council. “I knew about the problem of faculty retention and recruitment. Tee Baur ’68 told me about the DKE professorship, and I liked the idea that the Greek community could support faculty in a significant way,” Cobey said. “I also knew that the University was trying to get more women involved in giving and thought this would be the perfect way to introduce many first-time donors to supporting UNC.”
The Kappa Kappa Gamma Distinguished Professorship
Established in 2007, the Kappa Kappa Gamma Distinguished Professorship was the fourth Greek professorship endowment in the College of Arts and Sciences. Representing the gifts of 172 donors from Carolina classes 1960-2008, the KKG Professorship will help the College honor and reward its best faculty members while helping to recruit the nation’s best to come to Carolina. Cathy Bryson ’90 recognized the need for professorships as an important recruitment and retention tool after her service on the Foundation’s board of directors. For Bryson, the campaign’s highlight was the chance to work closely with the other champions of this project, including her mom (Nancy Faison Bryson ’60), Sheila Corcoran ‘92, Vicki Underwood Craver ‘92, Anne Faris Brennan ‘92 and the Arts and Sciences Foundation. “I reconnected with old friends, strengthened friendships and met many new women who share a love for Carolina and Kappa,” Bryson said.
Chi Omega Distinguished Professorship
The newest Greek professorship, the Chi Omega Distinguished Professorship, was established in 2008. More than 230 alumna representing Carolina classes 1941 to 2012 donated to the cause. Ann Rankin Cowan ’75 didn’t hesitate to lead the Chi O campaign because, as she said, “The Chi O house was my home away from home as a student. I was eager for an opportunity to reconnect with both the University and Chi O alumnae.” The Chi Omega Distinguished Professorship, like its predecessors, will provide vital faculty support to the College of Arts and Sciences.
