Skip to main content
Pepperdine | Community

Endowments

Guidelines for the Appointment of Named Chairs, Professorships, and Fellowships

Chairs

A named chair, such as the Fletcher-Jones Chair of Great Books, is reserved for a distinguished teacher/scholar who holds the rank of professor. Normally the holder of such a chair will have a reputation that extends beyond the Pepperdine community. To determine whether she or he continues professionally active following appointment, the holder of a named chair is reviewed every five years by the Rank, Tenure, and Promotion Committee. Assuming that the RTP evaluation is positive, the holder of the named chair retains the position until she or he leaves the university or retires. 

Professors

A named professorship is reserved for a distinguished teacher/scholar who holds the rank of associate professor or professor. Normally the holder of such a chair will have a reputation that extends beyond the Pepperdine community. Unlike a named chair, a named professor is appointed for a term of five years only and cannot succeed herself or himself in the position. A limited term permits the named professorship to circulate within the college. 

Fellows

A named fellowship is normally reserved for pre-tenured assistant professors who offer evidence of becoming outstanding scholars and teachers and seek assistance to complete major research projects. Fellows are appointed for one year, although they are eligible for successive appointments (but no more than two in succession). 

Funds Available

Named chairs, professorships, and fellowships will carry with them annual stipends (chairs $8000; professorships $6000; fellowships $3500) derived from endowment funds that will underwrite research, travel, and other scholarly costs. Of the total stipend, academic divisions will retain $1000 in the case of chairs and $500 in the case of professorships to encourage scholarship among the faculty within the division.