College of Arts and Sciences
Saleem Ali
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.
Maria Aristigueta
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.
Wendy Bellion
Sewell C. Biggs Chair of American Art History
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.
James Brophy
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.
Joan L. Brown
Elias Ahuja Chair of Spanish
Foreign Languages and Literatures
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.
Steven D. Brown
Willis F. Harrington Professor of Chemistry
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Research: The development of new methods for mathematical and statistical analysis of chemical data, known as chemometrics
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.
John Burmeister
Alumni Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Research: Chemistry education, including self-paced and computer-assisted learning, instructional television and instructional cinema
Alumni Distinguished Professorships are funded by endowments supported by the University of Delaware Alumni Association.
John Byrne
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.
David L. Colton
Unidel Professor of Mathematical Sciences
Mathematical Sciences
Research: Inverse scattering theory, the problem of determining the physical properties of an unknown object from its effect on acoustic, elastic or electromagnetic waves
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.
L. Pamela Cook-Ioannidis
Unidel Professor of Mathematical Sciences
Mathematical Sciences
Research: Mathematical modeling of fluids and the prediction of flow properties, with a current emphasis on complex (visco-elastic) fluids
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.
Patricia DeLeon
Trustees’ Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences
Biological Sciences
Research: Reproductive genetics, particularly the role of genes involved in sperm development and function. Our Lab has a strong focus on gene mutations that lead to sperm dysfunction and ultimately male infertility, as well as gene products, membrane proteins, acquired by sperm as they traverse both the male and female reproductive tracts. By identifying these sperm proteins we hope to increase our understanding of the requirements at the fertilization site. Our work has clinical implications for improving the success rate of IVF (in vitro fertilization) which is currently only 32%.
Trustees’ Distinguished Professorships were created by the University’s Board of Trustees to recognize deserving senior faculty members.
Marsha Dickson
Dr. Irma Ayers Professor of Human Services
Fashion and Apparel Studies
Research: Socially responsible practices in the apparel industry
The professorship is named in honor of Irma Ayers, who served from 1948 until her retirement in 1972 as chairperson of the then home economics program.
Mary Dozier
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.
John Ernest
Judge Hugh 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.
Alfinio Flores
Hollowell Professor of Mathematics Education
Mathematical Sciences
Research: Mathematics education, computers and calculators in mathematics teaching, and curricular development
This professorship honors Kathleen and David Hollowell, who established the 100th endowed professorship at UD in 2004. Kathleen Hollowell was director of the UD Mathematics and Science Education Resource Center and David Hollowell, UD executive vice president and treasurer, retired in 2007.
Gabrielle Foreman
Ned B. Allen Professor of English
English
Research: African American and American literature and culture, as well as issues of social justice
This professorship honors the late Ned B. Allen, a longitme member and former chairman of the Department of English.
Thomas K. Gaisser
Martin A. Pomerantz Chair of Physics and Astronomy
Physics and Astronomy
Research: Primary research interest is at the interface between particle physics and astrophysics
Martin A. Pomerantz served as director of the UD-based Bartol Research Institute from 1959 to 1986, and is internationally recognized for his pioneering use of the South Pole as a laboratory for studies in astronomy and astrophysics. The National Science Foundation named part of the Antarctica scientific base as Pomerantz Land and an observatory in his honor.
Xiang Gao
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.
Annette Giesecke
Elias Ahuja Professor of Classics
Foreign Languages and Literatures
Research: History and meaning of gardens in ancient Greece and Rome, urbanism and land use in classical antiquity; expressions of the utopian impulse in classical art, literature and architecture; Greek and Roman painting; Greek tragedy; and Greek and Latin epic poetry (Homer, Lucretius and Vergil)
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.
George C. Hadjipanayis
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.
Paul Head
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.
Christine Leigh Heyrman
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.
Melissa Ianetta
Unidel Andrew B. Kirkpatrick Jr. Chair of Writing
English
Research: Writing studies, with a specialization in research methods and undergraduate research
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.
McKay Jenkins
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.
James Jones
Trustees’ Distinguished Professor of
Psychological & Brain Sciences and Black American Studies
Research: Prejudice and racism, the psychology of diversity, diversity competency, psychological study of social issues and of ethnic minority issues.
Trustees’ Distinguished Professorships were created by the University’s Board of Trustees to recognize deserving senior faculty members.
J.P. Laurenceau
Unidel A. Gilchrist Sparks III Chair in the Social 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.
Arwen Mohun
Henry Clay Reed Professor of History
History
Cathy Matson
Richards Chair of American History
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.
William Matthaeus
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.
Rudolph Matthee
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.
Peter B. Monk
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.
Burnaby Munson
C. Eugene Bennett Chair of Chemistry
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Research: Analytical and physical chemistry, chemical ionization mass spectrometry
C. Eugene Bennett received his doctorate in chemistry from Pennsylvania State University and became a research chemist in the U.S. Air Force, where he began his work on gas chromatography. After working for the DuPont Co., he teamed with two others to form the F&M Scientific Corp., which became the world’s largest producer of gas chromatographic equipment and was later acquired by Hewlett Packard in 1965. From 1968-96, Dr. Bennett was partner in B&B Co., which bought and sold extensive real estate holdings in the area. The C. Eugene Bennett Chair in Chemistry was established though contributions from his widow, Edna Bennett Pierce, and the six Bennett children, three of whom are UD alumni.
Lawrence Nees
H. Fletcher Brown Chair of Humanities
Art History
Research: Art of the early Middle Ages, focused on northwestern Europe, Mediterranean and Byzantine world, and artistic traditions of early Islam
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.
Debra Hess Norris
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.
Kristen Poole
Blue Gold Distinguished Professor of English Renaissance Literature
English
Research: 16th- and 17th-century English literature and culture, specifically Shakespeare, with a particular focus on religious history
Paul Quinn
Trustees’ Distinguished Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences
Psychology
David Redlawsk
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.
Dan Rich
University Professor of Public Policy
School of Public Policy and Administration
Research: Urban policy, energy policy, and science and technology policy
The designation of University Professor is awarded in recognition of distinguished scholarship and service.
Qaisar Shafi
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.
Monika Shafi
Elias Ahuja Professor of Foreign Languages and Literatures
Foreign Languages and Literatures
Research: German literature, women’s literature
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.
David Shearer
Thomas Muncy Keith Professor of History
History
Harry L. Shipman
Annie Jump Cannon Chair of Physics and Astronomy
Physics and Astronomy
Research: Astrophysics, science education
The chair is named for Annie Jump Cannon, the native Delawarean and noted Harvard University astronomer.
Margaret Stetz
Mae and Robert 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 also 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.
Joyce Hill Stoner
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
Bruno Thibault
Edward F. and Elizabeth Goodman Rosenberg Professor of French Literature
Foreign Languages and Literatures
Research: 20th century and contemporary French literature, civilization and film
Edward F. and Elizabeth Goodman Rosenberg Professorships are funded by the late Edward F. Rosenberg, a 1929 graduate who received a master’s degree in 1930 and an honorary degree in 1952, and his wife, Elizabeth Goodman Rosenberg. Dr. Rosenberg was a nationally known rheumatologist, and his wife, a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, was a concert pianist and harpist.
Colin Thorpe
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.
Leland Ware
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.
Cathy Huey-Hwa Wu
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.
John Xiao
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.
John Yates
H. Fletcher Brown Professor of English
English
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.
