Foundation Endows TBED-related Faculty Positions in Tulsa

One of the latest examples of the important role a foundation can play in tech-based economic development strategies comes from a recent $15 million donation to Tulsa University. The Chapman Trust, established after the deaths of Oklahoma oilman James Chapman and his wife Leta Chapman, made the donation to perpetually endow nine new junior faculty positions at the university.

University President Steadman Upham announced the creation of the nine Wellspring Professorships in his Spring 2006 letter to the campus, saying the positions were all related closely to "the goals of the strategic plans of the collegiate deans." All nine tenure-track positions also mirror the globalization, entrepreneurship and diversity issues raised by many in the tech-based economic development community and popular business press of late:

• Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship, Economic Development, and Business in the College of Law
• Assistant Professor of International Business with a specialization in China in the College of Business Administration
• Assistant Professor of Biochemical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences
• Assistant Professor of Cyber Security with a specialization in hardware in the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences
• Assistant Professor of Materials/Nanotechnology in the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences
• Assistant Professor of Film with a specialization in production in the College of Arts and Sciences
• Assistant Professor of African American Studies/Women’s Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences [This individual also will serve as director of the Women’s Studies program.]
• Instructor of Chinese in the College of Arts and Sciences
• Instructor of Portuguese and Spanish in the College of Arts and Sciences

A private institution, Tulsa University has a student body of more than 4,000 served by 300 full-time faculty members. The school offers 10 doctoral degree-granting programs. The search to fill the professorships will begin in August, Upham wrote. His spring letter is available at http://www.utulsa.edu/news/.