Investing in the Power of Our Professors

From conducting world-changing research to helping students unlock their intellectual capacity, Emory professors help shape a brighter future in which societal problems like cancer and climate change are no longer insurmountable and students are inspired to seek lives of purpose. 

That’s why faculty eminence is a core component of the 2O36 campaign. Many generous individuals have stepped forward to answer the call. More than 80 professorships have been endowed — far surpassing the 41 that resulted from Emory’s previous campaign. 

“Our faculty is the heart of our university, and with endowed positions, we recognize their eminence and support their scholarship,” says Ravi V. Bellamkonda, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Our students also benefit, both from having incredible scholars in the classroom and by having access to research opportunities in diverse fields of interest.”

As we approach the final year of Emory’s 2O36 campaign, let’s take a moment to celebrate two of many individual acts of kindness that are fueling this tremendous — and transformational — success. 

Honoring a Father’s Legacy and Love for Emory

Where Richard M. Griffin 55C 59M 60MR would attend college was never in question. “My father wanted me to go to Emory, where he studied,” he says. “I had a great admiration for my father and for the fact that he was a doctor, so I did what he asked.”

Griffin went on to become an ophthalmologist and worked alongside his father, Harold W. Griffin 1921C 1923M, for many years. To celebrate his father’s life, Griffin and his wife, Olivia, have recently established the Griffin Family Distinguished Professorship in Otolaryngology.

Griffin chose to support his father’s specialty area to further the work of the Otolaryngology Department. The Griffins’ gift, along with matching funds from Emory’s Faculty Eminence Initiative, created a distinguished professorship, a highly regarded position reserved for those recognized as leaders in their fields. Distinguished professors are expected to leverage their positions to support other faculty members and researchers, expand research, and develop programs.

Arturo Solares, interim chair of the Department of Otolaryngology, is grateful for this investment in the department’s future. “This distinguished professorship will pay tribute to Harold Griffin’s role in the community, his contributions to the field, and his generosity in helping to train young otolaryngologists,” Solares says. “I can think of no better way to honor his life than to use funding from this gift to support our residency program.”

Gratitude for a Formative Experience

As a high school senior, Emily Park 04C was excited for a new start in a larger, more diverse community at Emory. During first-year orientation, Park quickly found community through Emory’s Korean Undergraduate Student Association (KUSA). “When I arrived at Emory, that was the first time I experienced that much diversity,” Park says. “Before the first day of classes, I already knew I belonged here. Through KUSA, I saw many versions of myself on campus.”

That sense of belonging and community continued throughout her time on campus and after graduation. Many of the friendships she formed during orientation week are still going strong today. Beyond these connections, Park says she left Emory with many skills and qualities that prepared her for success.

Much of what she took with her wasn’t from textbooks. Rather the entire experience—encouragement from professors to ask questions, experiential learning opportunities, and conversations with her peers—built her self-confidence. “I learned how to be curious,” she says. “I knew no matter what curveballs were thrown at me, I had the skills to work through them.”

The curiosity and confidence Park gained at Emory inspired her to launch her own retail business, the Capsule Shop boutique in Brentwood, California. She also serves on the board of trustees for a cause that is close to her heart, FamilieSCN2A Foundation, which provides support for SCN2A-related autism and epilepsy research, advocacy and community.

“Emory provided the space at the beginning of my adult journey to develop my own picture of success,” Park says, “including realizing my unique skills and interests and how to bring them to their fullest potential. Now I’m able to focus my time and energy on projects that are personally meaningful to me, including Emory’s 2O36 campaign.”

As a member of the 2O36 Campaign Leadership Council, Park wants more students to have the experience she had as a student. And she’s making it happen through her philanthropy.

On a recent trip to campus, Park sat in on a
political science class. She had a realization: Through discussions and unpacking information with students, Emory professors were ultimately improving the world, one classroom at a time.

Park’s family wanted to be involved in making a difference with Emory students. The family has endowed the Dr. Walter Park Professorship in honor of her father-in-law — a former journalist and national assemblyman in South Korea.

“My giving is truly personal,” Park says. “This professorship is a thank you to Emory from my family.”