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Elevate faculty impact

Shaping minds, changing lives

Support teacher-scholars who drive impact

Exceptional students need exceptional faculty. At NAU, our distinguished faculty are more than great teachers. They’re mentors who foster creativity and curiosity. They’re leading researchers in their fields, tackling the world’s biggest challenges. And they’re innovators who turn ideas into reality and empower Lumberjack students to make a difference.

Abby Fisher wearing a tan blazer playing small symbols

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Endowed positions

Recruiting and retaining the best talent

Endowed professorships, fellowships, and chairs provide the recognition and support necessary to recruit and retain the very best educators—those who challenge students to think more deeply and reach higher.

At NAU, we currently have 35 endowed positions in a wide range of areas, including environmental science, applied linguistics education, engineering, and more.

As we build on our Carnegie-recognized R1 research status, we aim to double the number of endowed positions, which will help NAU remain well-positioned to continue recruiting and retaining top teacher-scholars and supporting future researchers to navigate the industry landscape.

The number of current endowed positions at NAU

We aim to double the number of endowed positions as part of the Elevate campaign

$50M

NAU’s annual investment in research and development as an R1 research institution

A woman in black clothing plays percussion with drumsticks, focused on sheet music in front of her, with another musician blurred in the foreground.

“Being the Steven Hemphill Endowed Professor of Percussion Studies is a game changer for my students. The funding allows me to keep growing as an artist and educator. I plan to use it to attend a program for samba ensemble directors and continue my studies in West African percussion. That work directly benefits my students, because I bring those rhythms and techniques back to the classroom.” Abby Fisher Steven Hemphill Endowed Professor of Percussion Studies and Director of Percussion Studies at NAU

Read Abby’s story

Why Give

Elevate
teacher-scholars

Help us recruit and retain the world’s top educators at NAU. Your support helps faculty gain valuable resources, develop engaging, hands-on learning experiences, and build lifelong relationships with students who will become the next generation of problem-solvers.

Make a gift