Lafayette College announced a new endowed professorship dedicated to investigating the relationship between democracy and technology on April 9. The position is the second of its kind to be created this semester.
The professorship — funded by a $3 million anonymous alumni donation — is intended to support a pillar of the college’s recently approved strategic plan focused on the “digital infrastructures and tools that affect our lives, our communities, and our institutions.”
“This professorship will support the work of a faculty member whose expertise propels the evolving ‘Democracy and Its Technologies’ initiative, which extends outside of the classroom and research lab, and will drive opportunities that promote civic participation both on campus and in the community,” the news release on the professorship read.
The donation will finance the related teaching and scholarly research of a faculty member “in perpetuity.”
It is currently unknown whether a new faculty member will be hired for the professorship or if it will be given to an existing faculty member. Provost Laura McGrane wrote in an email that the “next stage” of the planning for the position will involve “faculty who are leading this area to determine how best to position this professorship.”
This is the third public alumni donation made towards the implementation of the most recent strategic plan.
“We are deeply grateful to our donors for their belief in our vision and their generosity and commitment to help bring the strategic plan to life,” college President Nicole Hurd wrote in an email.