Shortly after being informed of the Pendleton bequest, the Park School and the college's development office submitted a grant request to the Park Foundation, a philanthropic organization established by the late Roy H. Park, who had served for many years as the chairman of the college's board of trustees. The approved grant provided the school with funding for two endowed chair positions to honor then-President James J. Whalen. It also provided funds for resources to support those positions. The idea of endowed positions, or the means to provide them, had not been possible prior to Pendleton's gift. With that and the subsequent Park Foundation grant, the college found itself in a position to create three endowed chairs.
Endowed positions are fully funded faculty positions within specific departments.
The funding can come from bequests or an outside source, such as a foundation, a corporation or an individual gift to the college. The terms and conditions of each position vary, depending on the departmental needs. Search committees, made up of faculty and staff, look for candidates to fill the endowed positions, as well as work on job descriptions, Bohn said. According to the job descriptions of the current positions, chairs must teach classes, research or work on projects in their respective fields, participate in co-curricular activities involving the college and students and also serve a public role by giving lectures or holding workshops. The teaching load for endowed positions is lighter than permanent faculty positions.