Philip H. Knight endowed chairs and professorships were established at the
University of Oregon
The University of Oregon (UO, U of O or Oregon) is a public research university in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1876, the institution is well known for its strong ties to the sports apparel and marketing firm Nike, Inc, and its co-founder, billion ...
in 1996, when Penny and
Phil Knight
Philip Hampson Knight (born February 24, 1938) is an American billionaire businessman. He is the co-founder and chairman ''emeritus'' of Nike, Inc., and was previously chairman and CEO of the company. As of October 3, 2022, Knight was ranke ...
donated US$15 million for 27
endowed chairs and professorships, "to provide academic areas with a source of funds for recruiting and retaining faculty of superior academic quality".
Chairs and professorships must be awarded on merit only, not longevity.
Collectively, the Knight endowed chairs and professorships receive over US$325,000 in bonuses per year. The award for a Knight Chair is US$50,000, and US$25,000 for a Knight Professorship.
Phil and Penny Knight donated an endowment fund of US$5 million to the
Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2006.
In 2009, the Knights donated US$5 million to
Willamette University
Willamette University is a private liberal arts college with locations in Salem and Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest college in the Western United States. Originally named the Oregon Institute, the school was an unaffiliated ...
for a School of Law endowed chair named for Alex L. Parks, Penny Knight's father, who served on the faculty of the School of Law.
Stanford University
University of Oregon
Previous University of Oregon Knight chairs and professors
Willamette University
Symeon C. Symeonides, Alex L. Parks Distinguished Chair and Dean Emeritus of the College of Law
References
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Educational institutions established in 1996
Education in Oregon
Professorships
Stanford University
University of Oregon
Willamette University College of Law
1996 establishments in Oregon