Professional News

College of Public Health Recognizes Endowed Professors and Chairs

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 20, 2011) The University of Kentucky College of Public Health held a historic event Dec. 9, 2011, at the Hilary J. Boone Center by ceremoniously recognizing its six endowed professors and chairs.  

  • Richard Clayton, professor in the Department of Health Behavior is the Good Samaritan Foundation Inc. Endowed Chair in Health Education and Promotion
     
  • Ann Coker, professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the College of Medicine and in the Department of Epidemiology and associate dean for research in the College of Public Health, is the Verizon Wireless Endowed Chair in the Center for Research on Violence Against Women since 2007
     
  • Richard Crosby, professor and chair of the Department of Health Behavior, is the Development Dimensions International (DDI) Endowed Professorship in Health Behavior since 2004
     
  • James Holsinger, M.D., professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, is the Charles T. Wethington Jr. Endowed Chair in the Health Sciences since 2001
     
  • Glen Mays, professor in the Department of Health Services Management, is the F. Douglas Scutchfield Endowed Professorship in Health Services and Systems Research since 2011
     
  • F. Douglas Scutchfield, M.D., professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, is the Peter P. Bosomworth Endowed Professorship of Health Services Research and Policy since 1997

Clayton, Coker, Crosby, Holsinger, Mays and Scutchfield were recognized for their outstanding academic service and leadership for having each made significant contributions in scholarly achievements and in encouraging extramural funding among faculty. The community of faculty who hold this honor are called the Council of Endowed Professors and Chairs. Being an endowed professor or chair is the highest academic honor bestowed by the University on a professor.
 

"The recognition we received reflects the support we have from faculty colleagues, staff and our students," Scutchfield said. "We need and want to thank the donors who established the chairs and the Kentucky Legislature for having the wisdom of establishing the Bucks for Brains program. It has been an unqualified success and we hope, when good economic times return, that the program will be reinstituted."
 

The University and the College of Public Health have benefited tremendously from the leadership and achievements each of these professors have provided over the years and look forward to inspiring future professors to continue academic excellence among colleagues and students.
 

"Each of the endowed professors and chairs in the College of Public Health have benefited more than we can possibly express because of the vision and concrete investments made by specific donors, the Kentucky legislature and the administration of the university," Clayton said. "Individually and collectively we consider it a privilege and honor to be working with outstanding younger faculty members, the staff who make this university run smoothly, and especially our students who keep us intellectually nimble and humble. We deeply appreciate the recognition and pledge to work tirelessly to justify the trust placed in us."    
 

During the ceremony, each professor received a personalized engraved chair in the endowed professor and donor’s name.

Media Contact: Ann Blackford at (859)323-6442 or ann.blackford@uky.edu