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Teaching Chairs

The Margot C. Bogert Distinguished Service Chair
Established in 2004 by the trustees of the College, this chair is awarded for a term of three years to a senior member of the Sarah Lawrence faculty who has excelled in his or her commitment to the College. It honors the leadership and generosity of Margot Bogert ’75, who has served the College as an alumna, as vice president of college resources, as a trustee, and as chairman of the Board of Trustees for seven years, 1997-2004. The recipient will represent the best of Sarah Lawrence: excellence in teaching, a concern for the full development of students, and lively engagement with and service to the Sarah Lawrence community.
Current chair-holder: Melissa Frazier (Russian)
The Adda Bozeman Chair in International Relations
Endowed in 1999 by friends and students of Adda Bozeman, faculty member from 1947 to 1977. She brought to international studies a deep knowledge of the history, law, and culture of the nation-states that shaped the twentieth century.
Current chair-holder: Frederic Smoler (Literature)
The Mary Griggs Burke Chair in Art and Art History
This endowed chair was created in 2007 by alumna and patron of the arts Mary Griggs Burke ’38 to honor art historians as well as practicing artists who teach at Sarah Lawrence College.
Current chair-holder: Kris Philipps (Visual Arts)
The Joseph Campbell Chair in the Humanities
This endowed chair was established in 1986 by grateful students of Joseph Campbell, leading mythologist and former member of the literature faculty. Appointments to the chair are made on a rotating basis in any of several disciplines: philosophy, religion, psychology, creative arts, anthropology, history, or literature. It is the intention that the chair be held by scholars whose areas of specialization would broaden, enrich, and make more diverse our curriculum: the peoples and cultures of Africa, Asia, Native America, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Current chair-holder: Rose Anne Thom (Dance, MFA Dance)
The Harlequin Adair Dammann Chair in Islamic Studies
An endowed chair established in memory of Harlequin Adair Dammann ’72 by her mother, Harle G. Montgomery, to enhance the College’s global studies approach to teaching. This chair will address Islam through a variety of disciplines, including literature, philosophy, and the Islamic law.
Current chair-holder: Kristin Zahra Sands (Religion)
The Sara Yates Exley Chair in Teaching Excellence
Established in 1995 by Sara Yates Exley ’52. The goal of this endowed rotating chair is to recognize and affirm distinguished teaching.
Current chair-holder: Daniel King (Mathematics)
The Merle Rosenblatt Goldman Chair in Asian Studies
This endowed chair was established in 2010 by Marshall Goldman and Merle Rosenblatt Goldman ’53. Commencing in the 2011-2012 academic year, the chair will be a tenure-track position in modern Chinese history.
Current chair-holder: Kevin Landdeck (Asian Studies)
The Alice Stone Ilchman Chair in Comparative and International Studies
This endowed chair was created with gifts from trustees, colleagues, and friends of Alice Ilchman in celebration of her inspired leadership as president of Sarah Lawrence College from 1981 to 1998. It will be awarded to a faculty member who uses comparative methods to understand the human condition in its global contexts.
Current chair-holder: Bella Brodzki (Literature)
The Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation Chair in Middle Eastern Studies and International Affairs
Established by the Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation to increase academic offerings in international studies and extend the College’s reach into the local community.
Current chair-holder: Matthew Ellis (History)
The Roy E. Larsen Chair in Psychology
This endowed chair was established in 1969 in honor of Roy E. Larsen (1899-1979), publisher, advocate, and activist in the field of education, to recognize outstanding teaching in the field of child development.
Current chair-holder: Carl Barenboim (Psychology)
The Michele Tolela Myers Chair in Writing
Created in 2007, this endowed chair honors Michele Tolela Myers, president of Sarah Lawrence College from 1998 to 2007, to support and encourage writers who teach at Sarah Lawrence College.
Current chair-holder: Vijay Seshadri (Writing, MFA Writing)
The Noble Foundation Chair in Art and Cultural History
Established in 1984, this endowed rotating chair supports teaching in such fields as art history, aesthetics, cultural history, and the history of ideas, with a special focus on modern and contemporary art.
Current chair-holder: Gilberto Perez (Film History)
The Esther Raushenbush Chair
This endowed rotating chair was established in 1969 in honor of Esther Raushenbush (1898-1981), distinguished teacher, dean, and president of Sarah Lawrence College, to support and encourage outstanding teaching in the humanities.
Current chair-holder: Komozi Woodard (History)
The Frieda Wildy Riggs Chair in Religious Studies
Established in 1997 by the family of Frieda Wildy Riggs to support the teaching and study of all varieties of religion and its significance for culture, private and public.
Current chair-holder: Sandra Robinson (Asian Studies)
The Marilyn Simpson Chair for Science and Society
Established in 1998 by the Marilyn M. Simpson Charitable Trust to join the study of science with social science and the humanities.
The Anita Stafford Chair in Service Learning
Established to support a faculty member committed to teaching in the Community Partnerships and Service Learning Program.
Current chair-holder: Linwood J. Lewis (Psychology, Art of Teaching, Child Development)
The Ilja Wachs Chair in Outstanding Teaching and Donning
Established in 1998 by the donnees, students, and friends of Ilja Wachs. The chair will be awarded on a five-year basis to an outstanding teacher and don—in any discipline in the College—whose generosity of time and talent can draw forth from a wide variety of students a high performance and a lifelong love of learning. He or she should be an intellectual who is passionate about ideas and believes in his or her power to change people’s lives.
Current chair-holder: Ilja Wachs (Literature)
The Joanne Woodward Chair in Public Policy
This endowed chair was established in 1991 in honor of Joanne Woodward, alumna and member of the Board of Trustees from 1986 to 1993. The goal of the chair is to help integrate liberal arts courses with public policy issues, such as promoting peace, protecting the environment, providing education and health services, and safeguarding human rights. Appointments to the chair are made on a rotating basis, drawing from the disciplines of economics, history, political science, and sociology.