Ten Furman University Faculty Members Appointed to Endowed Professorships

GREENVILLE, SC – Furman University announced this week that 10 faculty members have been appointed to endowed professorships at the university.

Four of the new professorships are lifetime appointments, while the other six are for limited terms.

“These outstanding professors were selected in recognition of their record of teaching, scholarship and service to Furman,” said Dr. John Beckford, Furman’s Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean. “The University is fortunate to have the support of generous donors who understand the value of a strong faculty and the resources needed to help in its development.”

Here are the new appointments:

• Kailash Khandke, Professor of Economics and Asian Studies, was named the Frederick W. Symmes Professor of Economics, a lifetime appointment. Khandke joined the university in 1995 and earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis.

• Kevin Treu was selected as the Herman N. Hipp Professor of Computer Science, a lifetime appointment. He joined the university in 1992 and received his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.

• Helen Lee Turner was named the Reuben B. Pitts Professor of Religion, a lifetime appointment. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and joined Furman in 1983.

• Scott Henderson, Professor of Education, received the William R. Kenan, Jr. University Professorship, a lifetime appointment. He joined the university in 1998 and earned his Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

• Paul Wagenknecht was selected for the Herman N. Hipp University Professorship, a three-year appointment. Wagenknecht, a professor of chemistry, joined Furman in 2003 and received his Ph.D. from Stanford University.

• Jeanine Stratton received the Robert E. Hughes Professorship in Economics and Business Administration, a three-year appointment. Stratton, an assistant professor of business and accounting, joined Furman in 2005 and earned her Ph.D. from Florida State University.

• Savita Nair was named the James B. Duke Endowed Chair in Excellence in Asian Studies, a three-year appointment. Nair, an associate professor of history and Asian studies, earned her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and joined the university in 2003.

• Bryan Bibb was named the Dorothy and B.H. Peace, Jr. Professor of Religion, a three-year appointment. Bibb, an associate professor of religion, joined Furman in 2000 and received his Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary.

• Karen Buchmueller, associate professor of chemistry, was selected for the Henry Keith and Ellen Hard Townes Professorship in Science, a two-year appointment. She joined the university in 2007 and earned her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina.

• Weston Dripps was chosen for the Henry Keith and Ellen Hard Townes Professorship in Science. Dripps, associate professor of earth and environmental sciences, earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin and joined Furman in 2005.

Gifts from donors and foundations support 24 endowed lifetime professorships and nine rotating (limited term) professorships at Furman.