Dear CHASS Faculty,

Early this morning, Provost Watkins shared a wonderful opportunity to submit nominations for a pair of endowed chairs, sponsored by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, that rotate throughout the University of California.

It’s now UCR’s turn.

Each chair will hold a five-year term (July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031). The annual payout for each chair is approximately $65,000. CHASS may submit three nominations, no later than June 1. The timing is tight, but the opportunity for our faculty is tremendous.

We solicit self-nominations for the three slots allocated to CHASS. The nomination form available here should make the case that over the next five years the nominee will carry out an agenda of distinguished research, teaching, and service that advances one or more of the Foundation’s published interests, described in full here, and bulleted below.

• creative solutions to urgent challenges
• transformative change on some of the world's most pressing social issues
• existential threats of climate change
• criminal justice reform
• revitalizing local news in the U.S.
• expanding who creates, uses, and benefits from artificial intelligence
• strengthening the well-being of Native communities 
• empowering young people in Nigeria
• role of journalism in a responsible and responsive democracy
• strength and vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago
• increasing financial capital for the social sector, strengthening research and advocacy about the social impacts of technology

Self-nominations may be submitted electronically no later than 5pm PDT on Friday, May 15th. 

Self-nominations will be vetted by the Office of the Dean and the CHASS Faculty Executive Committee. The final decision on the three CHASS nominees rests with the Dean, consistent with standing policy and procedure on CHASS Named, Term, and Endowed Chairs. 

Based on nominations submitted by the various deans, Provost Watkins will make the final chair selections in consultation with Chancellor Hu and VPAP Dan Jeske.

We look forward to reviewing your nominations!

Yours sincerely,

Daryle Williams
Professor of History and Dean
College of the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
University of California, Riverside

Rachel Wu
Chair, CHASS FEC