Two Faculty Members Named to Endowed Chairs

Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty David Paris announced the appointment of two of Hamilton's most outstanding teacher-scholars to endowed chairs. Professor of Government Cheng Li was named to the William R. Kenan Chair and Professor of Chemistry George Shields was appointed to the Winslow Chair in Modern Science.

Cheng Li

The Kenan Chair, previously held by Professor Maurice Isserman, is awarded to a faculty member in order "to support and encourage a scholar-teacher whose enthusiasm for learning, commitment to teaching and sincere personal interest in students will broaden the learning process."   Paris said, "Cheng Li is certainly a fitting and appropriate appointee for this Chair. An outstanding teacher in both the large lecture and small seminar, he has brought an incredible combination of scholarly insight and personal experience to his classes on international relations and Chinese politics."

A nationally recognized scholar, he is the author of two books, China's Leaders: The New Generation and Rediscovering China: Dynamics and Dilemmas of Reform, as well as numerous articles and chapters.  He is also a widely sought after commentator and consultant on Chinese politics and US-China relations and currently holds a prestigious fellowship at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington.  Paris noted, "He seamlessly connects his work as a teacher here with his work as a scholar on the national and international scene."

 

 

George Shields

The Winslow Chair in Modern Science recognizes achievements in Latin, Greek or modern science.  It has been held by Jim Ring, who will now hold that title as emeritus.  "George Shields has done an outstanding job in transforming the Chemistry Department's curriculum and program, particularly in the area of encouraging student-faculty research," said Paris.  "He is a very productive scholar who routinely publishes with his students in the top chemistry journals, and he has been very successful in obtaining grant support."

Among his grants, perhaps the most notable is a current grant for over $750,000 from the National Science Foundation under which a consortium of schools led by Hamilton uses high performance computers to assist undergraduate research.  This grant embodies his simultaneous commitment to, and success in, teaching and research.