Princeton University has announced the endowment of seven new University Professorships, funded through significant contributions to the Venture Forward campaign. This honor is considered the highest recognition for faculty members at Princeton, acknowledging their scholarly achievements and contributions to research and teaching.
President Christopher L. Eisgruber expressed gratitude for the support received: “The foundation of Princeton’s excellence is the quality of its faculty, and the University Professorship recognizes individuals who have produced transformative scholarship and are spectacular teachers. We are deeply grateful to the alumni and friends who have made a timeless commitment to Princeton’s educational mission by endowing these University Professorships.”
The newly endowed professorships include:
– The Andrew K. Golden University Professorship
– The Bruce R. Lauritzen University Professorship
– The Neil A. Omenn ’68 University Professorship
– The Thor Johnson *02 University Professorship
– The U. Krishna Veeraraghavan ’99 and Sejal Shah University Professorship
– The William M. Addy ’82 University Professorship
– An additional unnamed professorship supported by anonymous donors
These positions are reserved for faculty with exceptional accomplishments, having been awarded only 73 times since 1962, including recipients of prestigious awards like the Nobel Prize, Fields Medal, and Pulitzer Prize.
Gene Jarrett, dean of the faculty and William S. Tod Professor of English, emphasized the importance of these roles: “University Professorships represent a unique opportunity for Princeton to recognize peerless educators who conduct world-class research and scholarship that can have a profound impact on the world.”
Among those honored is Howard Stone, named as the Neil A. Omenn ’68 University Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in September 2024. This position was funded by Gilbert Omenn ’61 and Martha Darling *70 in memory of Gil’s brother Neil Omenn.
Margaret Martonosi was appointed as the William M. Addy ’82 University Professor during a Board of Trustees meeting on May 26. Bill Addy highlighted his motivation: “Great professor-researcher-teachers like the ones I had at the School of Engineering and Applied Science are rare, and that’s who Lydia and I hope Princeton honors with this professorship.”
The Andrew K. Golden University Professorship commemorates Golden’s tenure as president of PRINCO from 1995 to 2024. Bob Peck ’88 praised Golden’s contributions: “Andrew Golden made an enormous impact in the University’s ability to fulfill its promise to its students.”
Clark Lauritzen ’99 explained his family’s decision to establish the Bruce R. Lauritzen University Professorship in memory of his father: “There’s very much a passion for service ingrained in our family… it’s a legacy that I know would make him very proud.”
Carl “Thor” Johnson *02 established a professorship in his name recognizing pathfinding research at Princeton: “When you can recruit a person like [Paul Seymour]… there is a virtuous cycle that attracts other top people.”
Finally, Sejal Shah and Krishna Veeraraghavan ’99 created their namesake professorship with hopes that it will help attract top professors to Princeton.
Further details about these gifts can be found on the Princeton Alumni website.
