Following the board of trustees’ vote to adopt Milton’s Strategic Plan, Head of School Todd Bland announced news of seven faculty members who will hold endowed teaching chairs. Timing of the news was particularly relevant, since the Strategic Plan prioritizes bold new commitments in faculty support and professional development during the coming decade.
With their gifts to the School, donors interested in sustaining the excellence of teaching at Milton established endowed chairs. A chair is an esteemed appointment that includes permanent, stable funding to support the faculty member’s work and that of the department over time. Naming a chair is one of the highest honors the School can confer on a faculty member. The gifts that establish these endowed chairs generate interest income that supports a leading educator’s role at a school like Milton in perpetuity.
Established over the course of Milton’s history, endowed chairs celebrate excellence in teaching. They signal one important way to note, honor and reward outstanding teachers among us.
Lisa Baker of the English department is the new holder of the Thomas S. Lamont Chair. Established in 1969 by bequest of Thomas S. Lamont, this chair celebrates teaching excellence in the humanities. Most recently, Anne Neely of visual arts held this chair.
Ann Foster of the history and social sciences department will hold the Philip B. Weld Chair. Established in 1978 by Philip S. Weld ’32, this chair celebrates excellence in the teaching of American history. Bob Gilpin most recently held this chair.
Michael Lou of the history and social sciences department now holds the Hong Kong Chair in Asian Studies. Established in 1998 by the Hong Kong Bicentennial Committee, this chair honors a teacher who demonstrates excellence and creativity in teaching a course or courses that educate Milton students in various aspects of Asian culture. This was formerly a rotating chair, but is now an appointed chair most recently held by Nancy Fenstemacher, Grade 2.
Lisa Morin, director of counseling, will hold the Ronald Moir Fund for Counseling Chair. Established in 1983 by the Moir family, this chair supports and ensures professionals at Milton for the full-time counseling program. The previous holder of this chair was Elinor Griffin.
Mary Jo Ramos, who teaches modern languages in the Middle School, holds the Jessie Bancroft Cox Chair in Teaching. Established by the Cox family to celebrate excellence in teaching, this chair was most recently held by Ana Colbert of the modern languages department.
David Smith of the English department will hold the Arthur Bliss Perry Chair. Established in 1980 by gifts from the John Moir family and from Mr. Perry’s friends, students and colleagues, this chair celebrates excellence in the teaching of English. John Charles Smith most recently held this chair.
Vivian WuWong holds the Lawrence M. Lombard ’13 Chair. Established in 1970 by the Lombard family, this chair honors excellence in the teaching of the social sciences. Carly Wade, of the history and social sciences department, most recently held this chair.