The University will soon receive a total of $1.7 million, with $1 million coming from the late Sen. Russell Long’s estate and $700,000 coming from Board of Regents matching grants. The money will be used to create several professorships at the University.
Sen. Long arranged for the donation several years ago when he was awarded a MetLife insurance policy for charitable purposes.
Elizabeth Nealy, LSU Foundation’s director of public relations, said some of the funding would go to an endowed chair in the Paul M. Hebert Law Center. Endowed chairs are extensions of professorships and usually help to begin an entirely new program, Nealy said.
Nealy said the money is not necessarily to create new professorships. Part of the money will go toward University professors who are currently doing exceptional work in their field.
“For instance, if there’s a professor at LSU who is doing very impressive work or receiving national recognition, the money could go as a stipend to him,” Nealy said.
Nealy said the money also would assist other University departments such as finance and political science.
Wayne Parent, chair of the department of political science, said the money they receive will provide resources for an existing faculty member, who has not yet been chosen.
Parent also said the money will go toward equipment such as data sets and enhanced computer programs, as well as conference trips and student employees.
“It allows a high-profile professor in our department to engage a little more in the outside world,” Parent said.
Parent said he did not know the amount of money the department will receive.
Chancellor Mark Emmert said he was proud of the professorships the University received because they recognize the importance of quality faculty members.
“They will help us recruit and retain very high quality faculty, and since they are endowments, the funds will continue to support these positions in perpetuity,” Emmert said.