August 23, 2001
NICHOLLS STATE RECEIVES $840,000 FROM BOARD OF REGENTS TO FUND TWO ENDOWED CHAIRS AND A PROFESSORSHIP
THIBODAUX
– Nicholls State University received $840,000 from the
Louisiana Board of Regents for higher education to complete
the funding for two perpetual $1 million endowed chairs and
a $100,000 endowed professorship at the university’s recent
Faculty Institute.
University President Donald J. Ayo accepted the matching funds
from Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. E. Joseph
Savoie to establish the John A. Brady Sr. Endowed Chair in Computer
Science donated by Larose businessmen Pat and John Brady Jr.,
the Otto Candies Endowed Chair in Information Systems donated
by the Candies family of Des Allemands and the Theodore J. Shepard
Endowed Professorship in Marine Biology donated by the Louisiana
Shrimp Association.
This will bring the university’s total endowments since
1997 to five chairs and 11 professorships, as well as a commitment
for a sixth endowed chair. Nicholls State has the highest number
of endowed chairs at any public, master’s-level institution
in Louisiana and was recently lauded for growing its endowments
fastest in the University of Louisiana System.
“Through Dr. Ayo’s leadership and the dedication
of the university’s faculty and staff, postsecondary education
in Louisiana is making a difference in the lives of the people
of this region,” Savoie said. “There is a growing
understanding of the value of and worth of a postsecondary education
that is accountable and relevant. Your dedication is creating
educational opportunities for the people of Louisiana.”
Ayo said, “We are grateful to the donors of these endowments.
These professorships will help us attract and retain the most
qualified faculty possible.”
To create an endowed chair or a professorship, colleges and
universities must raise 60 percent of the cost from private
sources, which makes them eligible to receive the 40 percent
match from the Board of Regents Support Fund.
The endowed chairs and professorships program is an invaluable
recruiting tool in attracting new scholars and researchers to
Louisiana, Savoie said. Endowed chairs help campuses retain
eminent scholars who attract bright young professors and graduate
students. Chair holders also interact with business and community
leaders to further academic enrichment and economic development
and diversification. Endowed professorships allow promising
educators to conduct scholarly research and help offset the
costs associated with research, faculty publications and library
acquisitions.