The academic tradition of endowed chairs dates back to 1502, when Margaret of Richmond, mother of Henry VII, established the Lady Margaret Professorship of Divinity at Oxford University.

Half a millennium later, the endowed chair has evolved into one of the most prestigious and permanent investments that can be made in any university. These seats constitute a powerful means of attracting and retaining superior faculty members by providing a permanent source of financial support for salaries and academic activities. Furthermore, endowed positions offer a unique opportunity for students to study under the guidance of a world-class scholar.

Professor Ken Hall
takes no chances with
losing his chair.

Beyond their direct impact on creativity and scholarship, these venerated posts play a vital role in immortalizing the individual or company whose name is permanently linked to the chair, resulting in a highly visible form of recognition that lives on from generation to generation.

The School of Cinematic Arts holds the record for any U.S. school specializing in the cinematic arts, with 18 endowed faculty positions.

Chairholders

Larry Auerbach
Larry Auerbach Endowed Chair
Dedicated on May 10, 2006

John Watson
Dana and Albert "Cubby" Broccoli
Endowed Chair in Producing
Dedicated on November 23, 2009

Mary Sweeney
Dino and Martha DeLaurentiis Professorship
Dedicated on April 1, 2011

Cecil B. DeMille
Chair in Silent Film
Dedicated on September 26, 2011

Tracy Fullerton
Electronic Arts
Endowed Chair in Interactive Entertainment
Installed on December 9, 2008

Judy Irola
Conrad Hall
Endowed Chair in Cinematography and Color Timing
Dedicated on October 24, 2005

Richard B. Jewell
Hugh M. Hefner
Chair for the Study of American Film
Dedicated on March 28, 1996

Drew Casper
 Alma and Alfred Hitchcock
Chair for the Study of American Film
Dedicated on November 13, 1997

Michael Taylor
The Kortschak Family
Endowed Division Chair in Film and Television Production
Dedicated on November 7, 2012

Dennis Wixon
Microsoft Endowed Professorship
Dedicated on September 18, 2012

Stephen K. Nenno
Chair in Television Production
Dedicated on October 24, 2005

Ellen Seiter
Stephen K. Nenno
Chair in Television Studies
Dedicated on October 24, 2005

Jack Epps
Jack Oakie
Endowed Chair in Comedy
Dedicated on November 9, 2003

Doe Mayer
Mary Pickford Endowed Chair
Dedicated on October 24, 2005

Todd Boyd
Katherine and Frank Price
Chair for the Study of Race and Popular Culture
Dedicated on October 24, 2005

Midge Costin
Kay Rose
Chair in the Art of Sound and Dialogue Editing
Dedicated on October 24, 2005

Elizabeth M. Daley
Steven J. Ross / Time Warner
Dean's Chair in Cinema-Television
Dedicated October 14, 1993

Lawrence Turman
Fran and Ray Stark
Division Chair for the Study of American Film
Dedicated on April 28, 1998

Kenneth Hall
Ken Wannberg
Endowed Chair in Music Editing
Dedicated on October 24, 2005