DePauw Adds 15 Endowed Faculty Positions

Through the commitment of donors, DePauw University is honored to establish 15 new endowed faculty positions across multiple academic departments and programs and spanning all three schools. These positions represent the generous investments of friends and alumni whose contributions deepen DePauw's commitment to faculty excellence.

"DePauw has always been set apart by our faculty," said Dave Berque, vice president for academic affairs. "Their continued commitment to our students and to the educational process empowers the life-changing learning that takes place on our campus every single day. These new endowed positions not only honor the individuals who hold them; they also reflect the profound generosity of our friends and alumni who often attribute their success to their DePauw experience."

Endowed faculty positions at DePauw are vital to sustaining long-term academic excellence. These opportunities empower the university to attract and retain distinguished educators, scholars and artists whose work defines their fields. By providing enduring support for teaching and creative inquiry, endowed positions strengthen DePauw's financial foundation and ensure broad learning opportunities for our students.

Of the 15 new positions, 10 have been made possible by the landmark $150 million anonymous donation received by the university in 2024. These new endowed positions include the following:

The Creative School Endowed Professorship for Sustained Excellence. These positions recognize sustained faculty excellence in one or more areas affiliated with DePauw's Creative School. The inaugural title holders are:

• Susan Anthony, professor of communication and theatre, who will hold the position until her retirement later this year, at which point Samuel Autman, professor of creative writing, will hold the professorship
• Meredith Brickell, professor of art and art history
• Joe Heithaus, professor of English
• Jonathan Nichols-Pethick, professor of communication and theatre

The School of Business and Leadership Endowed Professor for Early-Career Distinction. These positions recognize early-career faculty who have made distinctive contributions to one or more of the areas affiliated with DePauw's School of Business and Leadership. The inaugural title holders are:

• Amy Eremionkhale, assistant professor of business analytics
• Town Oh, assistant professor of economics and management
• Ryan Rudderham, assistant professor of economics and management
• Yanchao Yang, assistant professor of business analytics

The School of Business and Leadership Endowed Professor for Sustained Excellence. These positions recognize sustained faculty excellence in one or more areas affiliated with DePauw's School of Business and Leadership. The inaugural holders of this title are:

• Humberto Barreto, professor of business analytics
• Zhixin Wu, professor of business analytics and mathematical sciences

DePauw University is also pleased to announce the following endowed positions, supported by the generosity of additional friends and donors.

The Harmening Professor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This position recognizes a talented teacher and mentor of students for excellence in their contributions in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with a focus on faculty members in the Department of Kinesiology. The inaugural holder of this title is:

• Brian Wright, professor of kinesiology

The Kathryn Fortune Hubbard Endowed Marketing Analytics Faculty Chair. This position recognizes a faculty member for excellence in contributing marketing analytics expertise to the School of Business and Leadership. The inaugural holder of this title is:

• Ehsan Saremi, assistant professor of business analytics

The Judson and Joyce Green Endowed Chair of Creative Innovation. This position recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated leadership in developing and/or implementing high-impact curricular and/or co-curricular innovations and who will foster the continued evolution of work in these areas, especially in the context of music innovation. The inaugural holder of this title is:

• Steve Snyder, professor of music

The Steve and Karen Sanger Professor of Leadership. These positions recognize outstanding faculty who help students develop leadership abilities in and out of the classroom by building curriculum and teaching courses related to leadership. The inaugural holders of this title are:

• Leslie James, professor of religious studies
• Kent Menzel, professor of communication and theatre

In addition to the 15 new endowed positions described above, the university is pleased to announce its latest appointment to the following endowed position:

Tenzer Family University Professor in Instructional Technology. This position recognizes excellence in the use of instructional technology to enhance teaching and provides time for the named faculty member to assist colleagues across the university in similar work. In making this award we have put special focus on recognizing a faculty member who has excelled in the use of AI to support teaching. The inaugural holder of this title is:

• Harry Brown, professor of English

Each of these faculty members represents the very best of DePauw's ideals as an institution and embodies the university's commitment to developing leaders the world needs.

DePauw University extends its gratitude to the generous donors whose support has made these recognitions possible.