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Named Professors
Faculty are recognized with the honor of a named professorship in recognition of excellence and achievements in scholarship, teaching and service. In the University’s quest to build and sustain academic excellence, we are proud of the faculty who have risen to these heights—and grateful to the many donors and supporters who have invested in faculty achievement by creating named professorships. Named professorships may carry the name of the donor or can be a named in tribute to another individual or organization.
Please send any updates to UD-Provost@udel.edu.
The named professorships for each college and the University Libraries are available at the links below:
Bank of America Professor of Business
Economics
Research: Focuses on the areas of economic education, technology in the classroom and financial literacy.
The professorship honors the contributions of MBNA America, now Bank of America, which has been a generous supporter of the University.
Chaplin Tyler Professor
Economics
Research: Business management practices and systems engineering.
The professorship is funded by an endowment made possible by a gift from the late Chaplin Tyler, who worked at the DuPont Co. for 35 years and was a generous University benefactor.
Donald J. Puglisi Professor of Finance
Finance
Research: Corporate Finance, Initial Public Offerings, Corporate Governance, Disclosure, Repurchases
The Donald J. Puglisi Professor of Finance was established as an endowed fund in December 2006 by Daniel B. ’78 and Carol A. Strickberger wishing to honor Donald J. Puglisi ’12H for his service and philanthropic commitment to the University of Delaware. Dr. Puglisi was a UD faculty member for 30 years and received several awards, including an honorary degree from UD in 2012.
ARAMARK Chair of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management
Hospitality Business
Research: Organizational behavior and training in the hospitality industry.
This professorship is funded generously by ARAMARK in support of the Chair of Hospitality Business Management.
Bank of America Professor of Business
Finance
Research: Labor and health economics, the economics of education, of professional baseball, health economics and health labor markets.
The professorship honors the contributions of MBNA America, now Bank of America, which has been a generous supporter of the University.
Dana J. Johnson Professor of Business
Business Administration
Research: Studies how organizations and their leaders simultaneously explore new possibilities while exploiting existing competencies, and how social enterprises simultaneously attend to social missions and financial goals.
This professorship honors the late Dana J. Johnson, former dean of the then College of Business and Economics.
Chaplin Tyler Professor of Economics
Economics
Research: Empirical corporate finance with focuses on corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions.
The professorship is funded by an endowment made possible by a gift from the late Chaplin Tyler, who worked at the DuPont Co. for 35 years and was a generous University benefactor.
Unidel Crawford H. Greenewalt Chair
Plant and Soil Sciences
Research: The genetics, biochemistry and molecular biology of plants.
This chair honors the late Crawford H. Greenwalt, who served as president and chief executive officer of the DuPont Co. from 1948-62, as DuPont chairman for five years until 1967 and as head of its finance committee until 1972. Active in community affairs, he served on several boards of directors in the region. Mr. Greenwalt was married to Margaretta du Pont, who died in 1991.
Edward F. and Elizabeth Goodman Rosenberg Professor
Plant and Soil Sciences
Research: Measurement, modeling, and interpretation of mass transport and transformation in soil and other environmental systems as well as colloidal processes at various interfaces.
Edward F. and Elizabeth Goodman Rosenberg Professorships are funded by the late Edward F. Rosenberg, AS ’29, ’30M and his wife, Elizabeth Goodman Rosenberg. Dr. Rosenberg was a nationally known rheumatologist, and his wife, a graduate of the Curtis Institute, was a concert pianist and harpist.
S. Hallock du Pont Professor of Applied Economics
Applied Economics and Statistics
Research: Environmental conservation with a focus on land use and sustainable development.
This professorship is named for a generous benefactor who supported a professorship and research in animal husbandry at UD for many years.
Unidel S. Hallock du Pont Chair
Plant and Soil Sciences
Research: The chemistry of soil reactions.
The chair is named in honor of S. Hallock du Pont, a generous benefactor who supported a professorship and research in animal husbandry at UD for many years.
T.A. Baker Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Entomology and Wildlife Ecology
Research: Behavioral ecology of insects; conservation of biodiversity; impact of alien plants on native ecosystems; plant-insect interactions.
The professorship honors Thomas A. Baker, who was a professor of animal husbandry and on the faculty of the then College of Agricultural Sciences for 39 years. He and his wife, Ruth, made a bequest to the college, which established the named professorship.
John Bartram Assistant Professor of Urban Forestry
Plant and Soil Sciences
Research: Urban Forestry.
The John Bartram Professor of Urban Forestry is named in honor of John Bartram (1699 – 1777), one of colonial America’s foremost botanists, horticulturalists and plant explorers, and sometimes called the “father of American Botany.” In Bartram’s lifetime, Delaware was part of Pennsylvania, so he surely walked across what would become the University of Delaware campus on his many trips south along the boundary between the piedmont and the coastal plain.
Emma Smith Morris Professor
Political Science and International Relations
Research: Recent work has addressed the role of strategic narratives and the changing conditions of regional cooperation in Asia.
Sewell C. Biggs Chair in American Art History
Art History
Research: Late colonial and early national United States, exploring American art within the cultural geographies of the British Atlantic world and modern Americas.
The professorship was established in 1998 by Sewell C. Biggs and an additional gift from the Choptank Foundation. Mr. Biggs graduated from the University of Delaware in 1938 and was a philanthropist, world traveler and collector of fine and decorative art from the Delaware Valley Area. The Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover houses his collection, educating its visitors on the valuable cultural legacy of the region.
Carl J. Rees Professor
Mathematical Sciences
Interests include the dynamics of the tear film on the surface of the eye. Also works on dynamics of thin fluid films, phase change in solids, liquids and gases.
The Carl J. Rees Math Fund was established in 1991 by the friends and family of Carl J. Rees ’67H, who spent his career at the University from 1920 until his retirement in 1967 as Professor of Mathematics. He also held several leadership positions, including department chair, Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, and Provost. He served his country in both World War I and World War II and was awarded the Medal of Freedom by General H. H. (Hap) Arnold for his work as an operations analyst.
Francis H. Squire Professor of History
History
Research: Modern European history, particularly the social and political history of 19th century Germany.
The professorship honors Francis H. Squire, who joined the history department faculty in 1927 and served as dean of Arts and Sciences from 1945-56.
Elias Ahuja Chair of Spanish
Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Research: Contemporary Spanish literature, canon formation, literature by women, second-language learning.
Elias Ahuja, whose memory is honored by named professorships in Foreign Languages and Literatures, was born in Spain and represented the DuPont Co. in Chile in the early part of the 20th century.
Kathleen and David Hollowell Professor of Mathematics Education
Mathematical Sciences
Research: Cognitive studies of the teaching and learning of mathematics, mathematical assessment, cross-cultural studies, problem solving and posing, and teacher education.
This named professorship is generously funded by David E. and Kathleen A. Hollowell and supports a position in the Department of Mathematical Sciences that recognizes a faculty member actively involved in teaching, research and service in the area of secondary school mathematics.
Miller Family Endowed Early Career Professorship in History
History
Research: Histories of gender, sexuality, religion, and ethnicity in the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Unidel Amy Elizabeth du Pont Chair in Child Development
Psychology
Research: Early childhood experience and disruptions in foster care.
The Unidel Amy E. du Pont Chair in Child Development, made possible by an endowment provided by the Unidel Foundation, is named for Amy du Pont, the youngest daughter of Eugene du Pont. Known as “Miss Amy,” she established the Unidel Foundation in 1939 to provide special gifts for the University for purposes that might be difficult to accomplish otherwise.
Unidel Professor of Mathematical Sciences
Mathematical Sciences
Research: Scientific computation, mathematical software, and applications of mathematics in the life sciences.
Unidel professorships are awarded by the Unidel Foundation, which was established by Amy E. du Pont, a noted sportswoman and philanthropist who supported women’s education at Delaware and bequeathed her estate to create the foundation. The Unidel Foundation makes grants to finance specific projects to enrich educational programs at UD.
Trustees Distinguished Professor
Biological Sciences
Research: Understanding the pathogenesis of cataracts, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the side effects of cataracts and other ocular surgeries, and the regulation of lens development and cellular differentiation.
Judge Hugh M. Morris Professor of English
English
Research: African American literary history.
The Judge Hugh M. Morris Professorship was established through the estates of members of the Morris family. Judge Morris, an 1898 graduate who received an honorary degree in 1928, was a respected attorney and eminent jurist from Delaware who was appointed judge of the U.S. District Court by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. He was a member of the UD Board of Trustees from 1929-59, serving as its president from 1939-59.
Trustees Distinguished Professor of Music
Music
Research: Multifaceted violinist and singer-song writer, considered one of the world’s leading concert violinists from China.
Trustees Distinguished Professorships were created by the University’s Board of Trustees to recognize deserving senior members of the faculty.
Physics & Astronomy
Annie Jump Cannon Chair of Phyics and Astronomy
Research: Very-low-mass stars and brown dwarfs
Richard B. Murray Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Physics and Astronomy
Research: Pioneering work in the field of magnetic materials.
The endowed professorship was established by Richard B. Murray, a former professor of physics and former UD provost.
Unidel Distinguished Professor of Music
Music
Research: Music education, conducting, teaching music through performance.
Unidel professorships are awarded by the Unidel Foundation which was established by Amy E. du Pont, a noted sportswoman and philanthropist who supported women’s education at Delaware and bequeathed her estate to create the foundation. The Unidel Foundation makes grants to finance specific projects to enrich educational programs at UD.
Robert W. and Shirley P. Grimble Professor of American History
History
Research: Early American social and cultural history.
The professorship honors the late Robert W. and Shirley P. Grimble. Robert W. Grimble had a long career with the DuPont Co. and was a founding member of UD¹s Academy of Lifelong Learning who received the University Medal of Merit in 1992.
Languages, Literatures & Cultures
Elias Ahuja Professor of Foreign Languages & Literatures
Research: Addresses representations of Japanese identity in a range of narrative texts – literature, film, manga and videogames.
Elias Ahuja, whose memory is honored by named professorships in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, was born in Spain and represented the DuPont Co., in Chile in the early part of the 20th Century.
Cornelius A. Tilghman Sr. Professor of English
English
Research: Author and scholar of American literature, specializing in environmental studies, nonfiction writing and the history of race relations.
The Cornelius A. Tilghman Sr. Professorship in English was established by his widow, the late Marjorie Johnson Tilghman, AS ’28, in memory of her second husband, a graduate of UD’s Class of 1925 and a Rhodes Scholar.
Alumni Distinguished Early Career Professor of Biology
Biological Sciences
Research: Genetic research related to organ development and disease, especially in the eye.
Unidel A. Gilchrist Sparks III Chair in the Social Sciences
Psychology and Brain Sciences
Research: Relationship science, intensive longitudinal methods, couples coping with illness.
The Unidel A. Gilchrist Sparks III Faculty Chair in the Social Sciences was established in 2015 by the Unidel Foundation, in honor of A. Gilchrist Sparks III and his service as Chairman of the University of Delaware’s Board of Trustees. Mr. Sparks has served as a member of the Board of Trustees since 2003 and served as chair from 2009 to 2015. Mr. Sparks graduated from Yale University in 1966 and then served on active duty as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, including a tour in Vietnam. He earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1973.
Unidel Andrew B. Kirkpatrick Jr. Chair of Writing
English
Research: Film studies and adaptations, theories of storytelling, works of film director Alfred Hitchcock.
The Unidel Andrew B. Kirkpatrick Jr. Chair in the Department of English was one of several chairs created in 2001 from a grant from the Unidel Foundation to support recruiting top-quality faculty. Andrew B. Kirkpatrick Jr., Esq., was very active in state and local legal affairs. He served as trustee of the Unidel Foundation and as a member and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Delaware.
Edward L. Ratledge Professor of Africana Studies and History
Research: African nationalism, revolutionary movements, women’s history and Africana studies.
Unidel Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Physics and Astronomy
Research: Turbulence theory, solar wind, space plasma physics and numerical simulations.
Unidel professorships are supported by the Unidel Foundation, which was established by Amy E. du Pont, a noted philanthropist who bequeathed her estate to create the foundation.
John A. Munroe and Dorothy L. Munroe Chair of History
History
Research: Middle Eastern history, early modern Iran and the Persian Gulf.
The John A. and Dorothy L. Munroe Chair in History was established in 2007 through the proceeds of a charitable gift annuity created in 2001. The donors are the late John A. Munroe and his wife Dorothy (“Dot”). Prof. Munroe, one of Delaware’s best known and most respected historians, was named H. Rodney Sharp Professor of History in 1962. Dorothy Munroe remains an active member of the UD community.
Henry Clay Reed Professor of History
History
Research: Social and cultural history of technology.
Unidel Professor of Mathematical Sciences
Mathematical Sciences
Research: Numerical analysis and scientific computing.
Unidel professorships are awarded by the Unidel Foundation, which was established by Amy E. du Pont, a noted sportswoman and philanthropist who supported women’s education at Delaware and bequeathed her estate to create the foundation. The Unidel Foundation makes grants to finance specific projects to enrich educational programs at UD.
Unidel Henry Francis du Pont Chair
Art Conservation
Research: Conservation and preservation of photographic collections, collection management.
The Unidel Henry Francis du Pont Chair in Fine Arts, made possible by an endowment provided by the Unidel Foundation, recognizes the founder of Winterthur Museum and Country Estate, a showplace of furniture and decorative arts used in the U.S. before 1860 and home to the Winterthur/UD Program in Art Conservation.
Robert H. and Lydia H. Richards Professor of American History
History
Research: Intersections of gender, race, disability, citizenship and the law in U.S. history.
The Richards Professorship memorializes Lydia H. Richards, Robert H. Richards Sr. and Robert H. Richards Jr. Lydia Richards served on the Women’s College advisory committee to the Board of Trustees, Robert H. Richards Sr. was a leader of the Delaware bar and member of the UD Board of Trustees, and Robert H. Richards Jr., who graduated from UD in 1928, succeeded his father as head of the Wilmington law firm of Richards, Layton & Finger.
C. Eugene Bennett Early Career Chair of Chemistry
Chemistry and Biolchemistry
Research: leverages molecular dynamics simulations on supercomputers as a "computational microscope"
C. Eugene Bennett Chair of Chemistry
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Research: Understanding structure, dynamics and function of complex macromolecular assemblies, biological tissues and inorganic materials in the solid state
Ned B. Allen Professor of English
English
Research: Specializes in the literary and cultural history of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century England. She has published extensively on the intersection of religion, science, and literature, especially regarding the work of William Shakespeare and John Milton.
This professorship honors the late Ned B. Allen, a longtime member and former chairman of the Department of English.
Mathematical Sciences
Unidel Professor of Mathematical Sciences (A)
Research: Numerical analysis and scientific computing
Unidel professorships are awarded by the Unidel Foundation, which was established by Amy E. du Pont, a noted sportswoman and philanthropist who supported women's education at Delaware and bequeathed her estate to create the foundation. The Unidel Foundation makes grants to finance specific projects to enrich educational programs at UD.
Trustees’ Distinguished Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences
Psychological and Brain Sciences
Research: How infants form concepts for people, places and things.
Trustees’ Distinguished Professorships were created by the University’s Board of Trustees to recognize deserving senior faculty members.
Elias Ahuja Professor of Foreign Languages and Literatures
Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Research: Italian Renaissance: its literature and culture, women’s lives and gender roles during the period, women and science (alchemy, medicine, natural philosophy), letters and letter writing.
Elias Ahuja, whose memory is honored by named professorships in foreign languages and literatures, was born in Spain and represented the DuPont Co. in Chile in the early part of the 20th century.
James R. Soles Professor of Political Science
Political Science
Research: Political psychology, voter behavior and emotion.
The James R. Soles Professorship in Political Science supports a faculty member in the Department of Political Science and International Relations with career commitments to teaching, students and active citizenship and civic involvement, as exemplified by Professor Soles.
Alias Ahuja Chair of Spanish
Languages, Literatures & Cultures
Research: The intersection between literary and cultural studies.
Elias Ahuja, whose memory is honored by named professorships in Foreign Languages and Literatures, was born in Spain and represented the DuPont Co. in Chile in the early part of the 20th century.
Bartol Research Institute Professor of Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Research: Theoretical high-energy physics and cosmology.
The Bartol Research Institute was established in the will of Henry W. Bartol, who died in 1918, and its first Fellow was appointed in 1925. The institute moved to its current location on the UD campus in 1977, became part of the College of Arts and Sciences in 2000 and merged with the Department of Physics and Astronomy in 2005. Its mission is to carry out leading scientific research, primarily focused on physics, astronomy and space sciences.
Thomas Muncy Keith Professor of History
History
Research: Soviet and 20th Century European History.
Edward F. and Elizabeth Goodman Rosenberg Professor of Communication
Research interests: Health and risk communication, influence of social norms on health behaviors, persuasive health messages
Mae R. and Robert C. Carter Professor of Women’s Studies
Women & Gender Studies
Research: 19th-, 20th- and 21st-century women’s literature and culture, with an emphasis on British women, including women at war, women and comedy and late-Victorian women writers and artists.
Mae Carter, whom the professorship honors, is a pioneer in women’s equity at UD. She helped initiate and chaired the Women’s Studies Interdisciplinary Program and the Commission on the Status of Women and was instrumental in the creation of the Office of Women’s Affairs. The annual Mae Carter Award for outstanding returning adult woman student is given in her honor. A graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles, she was inducted into the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame. Robert Carter had a career in management with Getty Oil. An amateur photographer, he, and his wife travel extensively and have visited more than 130 countries.
Edward F. and Elizabeth Goodman Rosenberg Professor in Material Culture
Art Conservation
Research: Conservation of paintings, history of art conservation in the 20th century, preservation studies.
Krzysztof Szalewicz
Physics & Astronomy
Richard B. Murray Professor of Physics & Astronomy
Research: The phenomenon of intermolecular interactions.
The endowed professorship was established by Richard B. Murray, a former professor of physics and former UD provost.
Willis F. Harrington Professor of Biochemistry
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Research: Disulfide bonds.
Willis F. Harrington, Sr., whose memory is honored by named professorships in chemistry, graduated from UD in 1902 and received another degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before entering the chemical industry, where he was involved in the manufacture of dyes. He and his brother, Chancellor William Watson Harrington, an 1895 graduate of UD and a trustee for 59 years, were longtime friends of the University.
Mathematical Sciences
Carl J.Rees Professor
Research: Operator algebras, quantum information theory, abstract harmonic analysis
The Carl J. Rees Math Fund was established in 1991 by the friends and family of Carl J. Rees '67H, who spent his career at the University from 1920 until his retirement in 1967 as Professor of Mathematics. He also held several leadership positions, including department chair, Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, and Provost. He served his country in both World War I and World War II and was awarded the Medal of Freedom by General H. H. (Hap) Arnold for his work as an operations analyst.
H. Fletcher Brown chir of Humanities
History
Research: Specializes in the history of modern France and the French colonial empire, with particular research interests in West Africa and Algeria.
The H. Fletcher Brown Professorship was established through the estate of H. Fletcher Brown, who served on the University of Delaware Board of Trustees and received an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1930. He is remembered for his philanthropy and dedication to public service in the state of Delaware.
Unidel Edward G. Jefferson Chair in Engineering and Computer Science
Computer and Information Sciences
Research: Bioinformatics and computational systems biology.
The Unidel Edward G. Jefferson Chair honors the late Edward Jefferson, former chairman and chief executive officer of the DuPont Company and a University trustee and benefactor. The Jefferson Chair is funded through an endowment established by the Unidel Foundation.
Unidel Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Physics and Astronomy
Research: Spintronics, metamaterials, magnetism in nanostructures, and applications based on magnetic materials.
Unidel professorships are awarded by the Unidel Foundation, which was established by Amy E. du Pont, noted sportswoman and philanthropist who supported women’s education at Delaware and bequeathed her estate to create the foundation. The Unidel Foundation makes grants to finance specific projects to enrich educational programs at UD.
H. Fletcher Brown Professor of English
English
Research: Medieval and Renaissance British Literature, literary theory, material culture studies, and questions of ecology / environmental humanities.
The H. Fletcher Brown Professorship was established through the estate of H. Fletcher Brown, who served on the University of Delaware Board of Trustees and received an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1930. He is remembered for his philanthropy and dedication to public service in the state of Delaware.
Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor of Energy and the Environment
Center for Energy and Environmental Policy
Research: Causes and consequences of environmental conflicts and how ecological factors can promote peace.
Unidel Howard Cosgrove Career Development Chair in Environment
Research: Renewable energy, wind power, meteorology, climate change, air quality, numerical modeling of atmospheric processes.
Mary A.S. Lighthipe Chair of Earth, Ocean, and Environment
School of Marine Science and Policy
Research: How changes in land use and energy consumption elevate carbon and nutrient levels in estuaries and the coastal ocean, marine chemistry, ocean acidification.
The Lighthipe professorship honors Mary A.S. Lighthipe, a native of Sussex County with a longtime interest in the inland bays of Delaware. Lighthipe established the named professorship in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment to recognize the college’s research and teaching concerning the waters of and around Delaware.
Maxwell P. and Mildred H. Harrington Professor of Marine Studies
School of Marine Science and Policy
Research: Redox reactions in the environment, trace element speciation in marine waters and sediments, biogeochemical processes in marine environments, application of molecular orbital theory to geochemical processes.
The professorship honors Maxwell P. and Mildred H. Harrington, Delaware natives with a special love for the coast. Mr. Harrington graduated from Delaware in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.
Unidel Fraser Russell Career Development Chair in Environment
Geological Sciences
Research: Coastal groundwater dynamics, submarine groundwater discharge and associated chemical fluxes, groundwater-surface water interaction, water supply sustainability, water resources in developing countries and hydro-economics.
The Unidel Fraser Russell Chair for the Environment is a five-year career development chair named in honor of T.W. Fraser Russell, Allan P. Colburn Professor Emeritus of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
Maxwell P. and Mildred H. Harrington Professor of Marine Studies
School of Marine Science and Policy
Research: Underwater vehicle-based technologies and application to ocean ecological research and exploration.
The professorship honors Maxwell P. and Mildred H. Harrington, Delaware natives with a special love for the coast. Mr. Harrington graduated from Delaware in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.
Patricia and Charles Robertson Distinguished Professor of Marine Science and Policy
School of Marine Science and Policy
Research: Using underwater robots and satellites to examine how organisms use marine environments, and in studying the impact of climate change on ocean processes.
The endowed chair, funded through a generous gift from UD alumna Patricia Robertson and her husband Charles, is meant to reward exceptional young faculty talent.
Unidel E.I. du Pont Professor of Marine Studies
School of Marine Science and Policy
Research: Environmental and natural resource economics; nonmarket valuation, travel cost models, hedonic price models, contingent valuation, choice experiments, discrete choice econometrics; coastal and ocean resource use.
Mary A.S. Lighthipe Professor of Marine Studies
School of Marine Science and Policy
Research: Satellite oceanography, ocean circulation and climate change, environmental remote sensing.
Mary A. S. Lighthipe, a native of Sussex County, had a longtime interest in the inland bays of Delaware and established a named professorship in the College of Earth, Ocean and Environment because of its research and teaching concerning the waters of and around Delaware.
L. Sandra and Bruce L. Hammonds Professor in Teacher Education
Research: Dr. Desimone studies how state, district, and school-level policy can better promote changes in teaching that lead to improved student achievement and to closing the achievement gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students.
H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Human Services Policy and Leadership
Human Development and Family Studies
Research: Disabilities, community inclusion.
The professorship is named for H. Rodney Sharp, one of the University’s most generous benefactors. Sharp’s financial contribution to UD was one of the largest from a private donor to any American university, and he also took a personal interest in the details of the campus where he was graduated in 1927. He worked with the landscape architect to create portions of The Green that are unchanged 70 years later. He is the namesake of Sharp Hall and Sharp Laboratory.
Unidel H. Rodney Sharp Chair
School of Education
Research: Early childhood language acquisition and development.
The Unidel H. Rodney Sharp Chair, made possible by an endowment provided by the Unidel Foundation, is named for one of the University’s most generous benefactors. Sharp’s financial contribution to UD was one of the largest from a private donor to any American university, and he also took a personal interest in the details of the campus where he was graduated in 1927. He worked with the landscape architect to create portions of The Green that are unchanged 70 years later. He is the namesake of Sharp Hall and Sharp Laboratory.
Dean Family Endowed Chair for Teacher Education
School of Education
Research: Mathematical learning and development; learning disabilities.
Unidel Pierre S. du Pont Chair of Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Research: Polymer and composite processing and rheology, computer-based virtual simulations of the composites manufacturing process.
The funds for this endowment were provided through the Unidel Foundation.
Charles Black Evans Professor of Electrical Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Research: Nonlinear signal processing, wireless communications, statistical signal processing, electronic imaging and display, bioelectronics, image processing, multimedia security and communications.
This professorship honors Charles Black Evans, secretary-treasurer of the University’s Board of Trustees from 1896-1933. Evans Hall, home of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, is named after Evans and his father, George C. Evans, a member of the Board of Trustees from 1856 until 1904.
Charles Black Evans Professor of Electrical Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Research: Statistical signal processing, nonlinear and sparse signal processing, sensor network and consensus systems, machine learning, and information access methods for individuals with disabilities, including tactile, haptic, and multimodal systems.
This professorship honors Charles Black Evans, secretary-treasurer of the University’s Board of Trustees from 1896-1933. Evans Hall, home of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, is named after Evans and his father, George C. Evans, a member of the Board of Trustees from 1856 until 1904.
Arthur B. Metzner Professor of Chemical Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Research: Modeling and simulation of complex flows, nonequilibrium thermodynamics and transport phenomena.
This professorship honors the late Arthur B. Metzner, who came to the University in 1953 and chaired the Department of Chemical Engineering from 1970-77. He was a member of the National Academy of Engineering and received the UD’s Francis Alison Award.
Thomas and Kipp Gutshall Development Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Research: Metabolic, Protein, and Genetic Engineering; Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Systems Biology, Biomanufacturing, Biosensing, Cellular Stress Response, Genetic & Phenotype Stability.
David L. and Beverly J.C. Mills Career Development Chair
Computer and Information Sciences
Research:Programming models, compilers, runtime, building predictive models for bioinformatics application and migrating scientific applications to supercomputers.
Willis F. Harrington Professor
Research: Interests include applications of group representation theory within engineering disciplines, kinematics, motion planning, medical image registration and the mechanics of macromolecules. His current research focuses on affordance-based reasoning in the context of robotics.
Willis F. Harrington Sr., whose memory is honored by named professorships in chemistry, graduated from UD in 1902 and received another degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before entering the chemical industry, where he was involved in the manufacture of dyes. He and his brother, Chancellor William Watson Harrington, an 1895 graduate of UD and a trustee for 59 years, were long-time friends of the University.
Gore Professor of Chemical Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Research: Cellular and metabolic engineering, synthetic biology for biofuel production, protein therapeutics, viral detection, drug discovery, and protein purification.
This professorship honors the Gore family, including Robert W. Gore `59, Sarah I. Gore `76M and the late Genevieve W. Gore. Robert W. Gore, a 1959 chemical engineering graduate of the University of Delaware, served as president of W. L. Gore and Associates, Inc. and is a member of the UD Board of Trustees. In 1990, Dr. Gore received the College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award and he was inducted into UD’s Alumni Wall of Fame in 1992.
Donald C. Phillips Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Research: Disasters, infrastructure, infrastructure systems, risk assessment, structural.
This professorship honors Donald C. Phillips, an alumnus of the University of Delaware's Class of 1948, who through his estate provided a generous gift to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Mr. Phillips earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering and went on to lead an accomplished career as a construction engineer.
Edward C. Davis Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Research: Water quality modeling, the development of mathematical and statistical models for water quality and sediment studies.
This professorship honors the late Edward C. Davis, who graduated from then-Delaware College in 1905 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He became one of the nation’s leading hydraulic engineers and was a generous benefactor to the University.
Bentley Systems Early Career Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Research: Disasters, infrastructure systems, risk assessment, and transportation.
This professorship acknowledges the generosity of Bentley Systems Incorporated.
Blue & Gold Distinguished Professor
Biomedical Engineering
Research: Biomechanics of collagenous soft tissues and intervertebral disc function, degeneration, and restoration.
Allan & Myra Ferguson Distinguished Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Research: New polymers.
This professorship was established in 2015 with a gift from UD alumni Allan and Myra Ferguson. Allan Ferguson had a 20-year career as a chemical engineer at Johnson & Johnson, then senior operating positions at two biotech companies, followed by 20-plus years in international venture capital investing in early-stage biotech and medical device companies.
Terri Connor Kelly and John Kelly Career Development Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Research: Materials and Manufacturing Innovations in Multi-scale Fibers and Composite Design, Manufacturing, Testing and Analysis, and Applications.
This professorship honors and acknowledges the generosity of Terri Connor Kelly ’83 and John B. Kelly ’83, who endowed this professorship in support of the Delaware First Campaign.
Williams H. Severns Distinguished Chair of Chemical Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Research: Colloid and polymer physics, microrheology, active and non-linear microrheology, controlled delivery of therapeutics, cell biophysics, complex fluid structure and rheology, particulate gels, directed self-assembly.
The William H. Severns Distinguished Chair of Chemical Engineering was established through the estate of William H. Severns Jr, who earned his doctorate in chemical engineering in 1950 from the University of Delaware. and his wife Jacqueline S. Severns.
Donald C. Phillips Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Research: Advanced composite materials.
This professorship honors Donald C. Phillips, an alumnus of the University of Delaware’s Class of 1948, who through his estate provided a generous gift to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Mr. Phillips earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and went on to lead an accomplished career as a construction engineer.
George W. Laird Professorship of Mechanical Engineering
Research: Biomechanical Engineering.
This professorship honors the memory of George W. Laird, an alumnus of the University of Delaware’s College of Engineering who earned a master’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering in 1971. He was killed in a tragic accident in 1977. The funds for this endowment were provided through the George W. Laird Fund in Mechanical Engineering.
Donald C. Phillips Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Research: Numerical modeling/simulation of various non-cohesive and cohesive sediment transport, including wave-driven on/offshore transport and their effect on beach profile evolution, and flocculation of cohesive sediments.
This professorship honors Donald C. Phillips, an alumnus of the University of Delaware's Class of 1948, who through his estate provided a generous gift to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Mr. Phillips earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering and went on to lead an accomplished career as a construction engineer.
Donald C. Phillips Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Research: Industrial wastewater management, aquatic chemistry, chemical oxidation technologies.
This professorship honors Donald C. Phillips, an alumnus of the University of Delaware’s Class of 1948, who through his estate provided a generous gift to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Mr. Phillips earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and went on to lead an accomplished career as a construction engineer.
Bob and Jane Gore Centennial Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Research:Process operations, design and synthesis of flexible production systems focusing on pharmaceutical manufacturing, energy and sustainability process modeling and operations, and modeling of biopharmaceutical production.
This professorship acknowledges the generosity of Robert W. ’59 ’10H and Jane Gore.
Centennial Term Professor for Excellence in Research and Education
Materials Science and Engineering
Research Interest:
Two main areas of interest include: Structure and Thermodynamics in Polymer Nanocomposites, Polymer Blends and Polymer Solutions; and design of Bioderived, Biocompatible or Bioinspired Macromolecular Materials.
Blue & Gold Distinguished Professor
Materials Science and Engineering
Research: Synthesis, characterization, and application of protein, peptide, and self-assembled materials for applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and bioengineering, with specific research in cardiovascular, vocal fold, and cancer therapies.
Edward C. Davis Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Research: Applied coastal research, currents, wave conditions, nearshore oceanography.
This professorship honors the late Edward C. Davis, who graduated from then-Delaware College in 1905 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He became one of the nation’s leading hydraulic engineers and was a generous benefactor to the University.
Thomas and Kipp Gutshall Development Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Research: Biomaterials, stimuli-responsive materials, three-dimensional cell culture, tissue engineering and drug delivery.
Distinguished Professor
Materials Science and Engineering
Research: Mechanically-enhanced, multifunctional materials inspired by nature.
Gore Professor of Chemical Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Research: Gene expression monitoring tools, including mass spectrometry, for the measurement of protein expression relevant to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries and to human health.
This professorship honors the Gore family, including Trustee Robert W. Gore `59, Sarah I. Gore `76M and the late Genevieve W. Gore. Robert W. Gore, a 1959 chemical engineering graduate of the University of Delaware, served as president of W.L. Gore and Associates, Inc. and was a member of the UD Board of Trustees. In 1990, Dr. Gore received the College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award and he was inducted into UD’s Alumni Wall of Fame in 1992.
Allan P. Colburn Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Research:Applied protein biophysics, separation processes and colloid and interface science.
This professorship honors Allan P. Colburn, a nationally prominent chemical engineer who was chairman of UD’s Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. Dr. Colburn also served as acting president of the University in 1950 and provost from 1950 until his death in 1955.
Robert K. Grasselli, Ph.D. Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Research: Material design and synthesis, Membrane Reactor, Short-contact-time reactor, Energy conversion and storage, Nanoporous materials, Catalysis and Reaction engineering.
Claire D. LeClaire Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Research: Inorganic materials synthesis and characterization, catalysis and kinetics, and adsorption and separations.
This professorship was made possible by the endowment of the late Mr. Claire D. LeClaire, formerly of Dover, in support of chemical engineering efforts at the University.
Distinguished Professor of Materials Science
Materials Science and Engineering
Research: Polymer-based solar cells, neutron and x-ray scattering, rheological characterization, nanocomposites, nanoparticle self-assembly.
This professorship recognizes deserving senior members of the UD faculty.
Karl W. and Renate Böer Chair of Materials Science and Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Research: Materials via self-assembly, Microelectronics/photonics, Nanotechnology, New biomaterials, Tissue Engineering.
The professorship honors Karl W. Böer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Physics and Solar Energy, and Renate Böer, an authority in the field of international trade. A pioneer in the fields of solar cells, solar energy systems, and solid state physics, Dr. Böer was a faculty member from 1962-1994. In 1987, the University established the Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit in his honor. Dr. Boer also was awarded UD’s Medal of Distinction in 1998.
Bentley Systems Early Career Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Research: Big data, bridges for the future, infrastructure, materials, structural, sustainability.
This professorship acknowledges the generosity of Bentley Systems Incorporated.
Unidel Eugene du Pont Chair
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Research: Systems biology, metabolic engineering, and experimental and computational genomics.
This chair honors Eugene du Pont, who served as the fourth president of the DuPont Co. from 1889-1902. The Eugene du Pont Distinguished Memorial Scholars program, funded by a Unidel Foundation endowment and supporting highly qualified incoming freshmen, also is named in his honor.
Distinguished Professor of Materials Science
Materials Science
Research: Exploring vesicle, micelle and hydrogel formation in dilute aqueous systems of block polypeptides.
Engineering Alumni Distinguished Professor
Mechanical Engineering
Research: Applying fundamental fluids and thermal physics at the component and systems levels.
Established in 2007 by more than 50 UD alumni and their employers, the College of Engineering Alumni Professorship endowment assists the college in attracting and retaining the best and brightest talent in engineering education and research.
Engineering Alumni Distinguished Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Research: The development of micro-, meso- and nano-photonic devices, applied optics and electromagnetic research, and imaging technologies in the millimeter-wave (mmW) part of the spectrum.
This named professorship is supported by an endowment fund established by alumni in 2004 to assist in attracting and retaining the best and brightest talent in engineering education and research.
Karl W. and Renate Böer Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Research: Electrospun polymer nanofibers, tissue engineering scaffolds, nanostructures.
The professorship honors Karl W. Böer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Physics and Solar Energy, and Renate Böer, an authority in the field of international trade. A pioneer in the fields of solar cells, solar energy systems, and solid state physics, Dr. Böer was a faculty member from 1962-94. In 1987, the University established the Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit in his honor. He was awarded UD’s Medal of Distinction in 1998.
Alumni Distinguished Professor of Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences
Research: Internationally renowned expert in edge computing, autonomous driving, and connected health.
This professorship was established with an endowment commitment made by the University of Delaware Alumni Association in 2002.
Thomas and Kipp Gutshall Career Development Professor of Chemical and Biomeolecular Engineering
Research: Lignocellulosic bioenergy and sustainable small molecule production, biotemplated nanomaterial synthesis, whole cell biosensors, and medical diagnostics and novel gene editing technologies.
Alvin B. and Julie O. Stiles Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Research: Drug delivery, gene delivery, biomaterials and stimuli-responsive materials, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Elizabeth Inez Kelley Professor of Chemical Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Research: Design and synthesize nanoscale materials for catalytic and energy storage applications.
Unidel Dan Rich Chair in Energy
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Research: Multiscale simulation, reacting flows, reaction mechanism development, microreactors, portable power, energy, crystal growth, nanomaterials, zeolites, membranes, separations, cellular engineering and cancer.
Funded by the Unidel Foundation, this endowed chair honors Dan Rich for his distinguished service as the University’s provost from 2001 to 2009.
Unidel Robert L. Pigford Chair in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Research: Fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, molecular thermodynamics.
Funded by the Unidel Foundation, this professorship honors Robert L. Pigford, chairperson of the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from 1947-66, the first recipient of the University’s Francis Alison Faculty Award and a member of the UD.
Unidel Edward G. Jefferson Chair in Engineering and Computer Science
Computer and Information Sciences
Research: bioinformatics and computational systems biology.
The Unidel Edward G. Jefferson Chair honors the late Edward Jefferson, former chairman and chief executive officer of the DuPont Company and a University trustee and benefactor. The Jefferson Chair is funded through an endowment established by the Unidel Foundation.
Charles Black Evans Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Research: Wireless communications systems, space-time coding, time-frequency analysis, and other signal and image processing.
This professorship honors Charles Black Evans, secretary-treasurer of the University’s Board of Trustees from 1896-1933. Evans Hall, home of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, is named after Mr. Evans and his father George C. Evans, a member of the Board of Trustees from 1856 until 1904.
Henry Belin du Pont Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Research: Using nanomaterials to solve problems in energy engineering, environmental sustainability and electronics.
This chair honors Henry Belin du Pont, who served on the Board of Trustees from 1944 until his death in 1970. His unusually diverse educational background and other life-long interests set the tone for his broad-based role at Delaware. Being well informed about business, science, and technology issues, he was a leader in community development. Upon his death, he bequeathed a substantial legacy to the University.
Daniel L. Chester Mid-Career Professorship in Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences
Unidel Katherine L. Esterly Chair in Health Sciences
Health Sciences
Research: Cardiovascular physiology and Exercise Physiology.
Distinguished Professor of Health Sciences
Physical Therapy
Research: To improve physical function and societal participation in older adults with musculoskeletal conditions, specifically low back pain and hip fracture.
Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor of Energy and the Environment
Center for Energy and Environmental Policy
Research: Causes and consequences of environmental conflicts and how ecological factors can promote peace.
Charles P. Messick Chair in Public Administration
School of Public Policy and Administration
Research: Performance management and organizational behavior.
The Messick chair was established by the University to honor Charles Messick, a 1907 graduate who for more than 40 years devoted his talents to the problems of governmental administration in the state of New Jersey and the nation.
Distinguished Professor of Energy and Climate Policy
Center for Energy and Environmental Policy
Research: Energy, environmental policy.
Distinguished Professorships recognize deserving senior members of the faculty.
Unidel Helen Gouldner Career Development Chair in Environment
School of Public Policy and Administration
Research: Urbanization and environmental change, environmental policy and politics, urban and regional planning, policymaking, urban affairs, community engagement and civil society, policy analysis.
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Chair of Civil Discourse
School of Public Policy and Administration
Research: Public-facing projects including the use of democratic discussion through organizations in communities.
Louis L. Redding Chair for the Study of Law and Public Policy
School of Public Policy and Administration
Research: Civil rights law and policy.
The Chair honors Louis L. Redding, a Delaware civil rights pioneer committed to using the law to achieve social justice for all Americans.