Faculty Support

Goal: $6 million

Named chairs are endowed positions that enable St. Andrew’s to strengthen its academic program by attracting and retaining distinguished scholars as members of the School’s faculty.

Endowed chairs and faculty support funds are part of the permanently restricted endowment, with an annual draw of 5% made each year to cover applicable operating expenses. All investment returns in excess of 5% are returned to the fund for future growth.

A Donor Wall of Honor will permanently recognize all those who pledge $10,000 or more to the Crossroads Campaign. Gifts may be directed to support an existing endowed fund for financial aid or to create a new fund.  

The Merrill M. Stenbeck Headmaster’s Chair

There is only one named Headmaster’s Chair. The Fund produces $150,000 annually in year one, to supplement the Headmaster’s Mission and Leadership budget. The use of the funds is at the discretion of the Headmaster as approved by the Board of Trustees.

The Merrill M. Stenbeck Headmaster’s Chair was established in 2010 by a gift from Cristina ’95 and Alexander Fitzgibbons.

Named Chairs for Department Heads: $1,000,000

Limited to one per department, the Chair provides discretionary support for the Department Chair to strengthen the curriculum and professional development of the department, subject to the Headmaster’s approval.

Presently there are two named Endowed Chairs at this level. The Dean of Faculty Endowed Chair was endowed during the previous campaign. The Stuart Chair in English was established in 2010 by a gift from Robin and Sandy Stuart P’09.

Named Faculty Support Funds: $500,000

These funds are directed by the donor to support professional development or expenses related to a particular department or area of concentration.

Presently, we have four such funds: the Robert Colburn Director of Athletics Fund, the Faculty Enhancement Fund, the Walden Pell Fund for Faculty Summer Study and the Belk Endowment for Global Studies.

Named Faculty Enhancement Funds: $50,000 - $250,000

These funds are used to support general faculty professional development work.

Existing Funds in Honor of Distinguished Faculty throughout the School’s History

Presently, we have 10 endowed funds established in honor of former faculty to support the professional development of our current faculty:

  • Albert Nalle Memorial Fund
  • Bishop Philip Cook Fund
  • Blackburn Hughes, Jr. Fund
  • C.G. Voorhees Memorial Fund
  • Davis A. Washburn Fund
  • First Girls Fund
  • Melvin H. Peters Fund
  • Robert Stegeman Professional Advancement Fund
  • Susan Battin Endowed Chaplaincy Fund
  • W. Hollingsworth Whyte III ’35 Fund

To make a gift in support of an existing endowed fund or to establish a new fund, please contact Gordon Brownlee, Director of Advancement, at 302.285.4376 or

The tradition of creating endowed chairs and named funds in academic communities reflects a school’s highest ideals and mission. Endowed chairs celebrate the essential dynamic that makes great education possible: the connection between gifted, generous, creative teachers and promising, engaged, passionate students.

— J. Kent Sweezey '70
president, Board of Trustees