R. Gordon Gould '41 gave Union nearly $1.5 million to endow a faculty chair in physics during 1994-95. Gould's gift honors his mentor, Prof. Frank Studer. Gould credits Prof. Studer for sparking the interest in the properties of light and a love of optics that led to Gould's invention of the laser. Gould also received the Eliphalet Nott Medal, recognizing the perseverance of alumni who have achieved great distinction in their fields, at Commencement.
As Gould's relationship with Prof. Studer so vividly illustrates, the foundation of Union's excellence has always been a faculty that combines a lively interest in scholarship with a dedication to teaching. The principal measure of how well Union succeeds in its educational mission is the commitment and accessibility of the faculty to the students. Today, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools reports that, “the Union faculty is an exceptional collection of teachers/scholars.”
Endowed, named professorships are vital to the College's ability to attract, nurture, reward and retain teacher-scholars in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
The Gould Chair is the sixth endowed chair established through the Bicentennial Campaign. The other five are:
- the John and Jane Wold chair in geology,
- the Thomas J. Watson, Sr. and Emma Watson Day chair in mechanical engineering,
- the Roger Thayer Stone chair in sociology,
- the Kenneth B. Sharpe chair in management, and
- the Carl B. Jansen chair in civil engineering.