Endowment

List of 18 frequently asked questions.

• The Chilcote Chair in Applied and Innovative Learning

  

  The Chilcote Chair in Applied and Innovative Learning was established in 1992 through a bequest from the estate of Lee A. Chilcote ’26 to honor a University School faculty member for the lively dynamic manner in which he or she conducts class and involves the boys in meaningful applications of their learning to the larger world around them. The award of the chair recognizes that teacher, regardless of discipline, who has developed an imaginative and effective program integrating descriptive and theoretical material with current technological practice.
  
  Chair holder Ellen Rothfusz, who joined the US faculty in 2009, is the Curriculum Coordinator for Grades 3-5 and teaches Grade 4. She recieved her B.S. degree from St. Joseph University.

• The Conway Chair in Social Studies

  The Conway Chair in Social Studies was established in 1996 by William E. Conway ’45 to support the teaching of Social Studies at the Shaker Campus. 
  
  Chair holder Bridgette Nadzam Kasubick is Middle School Social Studies Chair, and World Geography teacher. She joined the US faculty in 2008. She received her M.Ed. from John Carroll University, and her B.A. from George Washington University.

• The Eugene H. Gray Chair in English

  The Eugene H. Gray Chair in English was established in 1988 by Robert T. Keeler ’32 and Thomas T. Keeler ’39 in honor of Eugene Gray, Upper School English master. 
  
  Chair holder James Garrett is the chair of the Upper School English Department. Joining US in 1982, he received his M.A. from Cleveland State University and his B.A. from Oberlin College.

• The Bruce Griswold Chair in Mathematics

  

  The Bruce Griswold '34 Chair in Mathematics was established in 1987 to support great mathematics teaching and symbolizes the school's commitment to good teachers by giving them the status and recognition they deserve as leaders of a great profession. Funds were raised from Bruce Griswold's friends, fellow lawyers and alumni. 
  
  Chair holder Danny Jones, who joined the US faculty in 2017, is the Middle School Math Department Chair. He received his M.S. and B.S. from Montana State University.

• The Richard A. Hawley Teaching Chair

  

  The Richard A. Hawley Teaching Chair was established in 2005 to honor retiring headmaster, Richard A. Hawley and includes a restricted fund for the chair and unrestricted funds to support programs and facilities. A committee made up of Mr. William E. Conway ‘45, Mr. Jon H. Outcalt ‘55, Mr. John F. Turben ’53 and Mr. W. Hayden Thompson ’45 raised the funds. 
  
  Chair holder Carol Jaffee Pribble is the Drama Director and teaches several drama courses. She also coaches senior speakers and Sherman Prize finalists and directs the fall play and the spring musical. She is the associate director of The Fairmount Performing Arts Camp. Previous responsibilities at US included chairing the Arts Department from 1999-2007. Prior to joining University School in 1984, Mrs. Pribble taught Drama, Speech and English at Shaw High School, taught acting at the Front Row Theater, and directed 11 seasons at Chagrin Valley Little Theater. Mrs. Pribble received her B.S. from Emerson College and a degree in Speech Education from Kent State University.

• The F. Washington Jarvis Chair in Religion and Ethics

  

  The F. Washington Jarvis Chair in Religion and Ethics was established in 1988 by Mrs. Kay and Mr. Dudley Blossom, Mrs. Nancy O’Neill, and an anonymous donor in honor of the Rev. F. Washington “Tony” Jarvis. The charge for the chair is to guide the exploration of religious and ethical expression and strengthen the awareness of the unity between the truth of religious experience and the goodness of human community within the University School community. It is devoted to promoting a community-wide appreciation of the religious dimension of human experience and to understanding the basis for decent and humane relationships between persons: ethics.
  
  Chair holder James Lewis '00 returned to US in 2010 and is a History Teacher and Head Coach of the Speech & Debate Team at the Upper School. He earned his undergraduate degree at Kenyon College and his master's degree from Pennsylvania State University.  

• The Edward A. and Linna B. Kilroy Endowment for Natural Sciences and the Environmental Studies

  

  The Edward A. and Linna B. Kilroy Endowment for Natural Sciences and the Environmental Studies was established in 1985 by Mr. and Mrs. William S. Kilroy ’43 in honor of his parents for whom Mr. Kilroy and his brother, Mr. Edward Kilroy, Jr.'43 named the Hunting Valley campus' Lake Kilroy. The chair provides funding for a member of the science department, development of science curricula in natural sciences and ecological studies, and equipment and supplies the growing program needs. The chair is part of the Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Kilroy Sr. Endowment for Sciences and Environmental Studies whose purpose is to encourage teachers and students to make full use of Lake Kilroy and the forests and fields which surround it as they are a unique outdoor laboratory and to assure that the area will remain both unspoiled and fully utilized for generations to come.
  
  Chair holder Terrence J. Harmon began his career at University School when the Upper School opened in the fall of 1970. He was hired to teach biology and to develop an outdoor program that would utilize the extensive woods surrounding the building. Mr. Harmon was responsible for the creation of the maple sugar and trout hatchery programs, which have been popular outdoor projects for students for over 30 years. He currently teaches a class in natural history and natural resources and has taught courses in introductory biology, zoology, and natural resources. He has worked with students in grades 3 and 6 in building replicas of birch bark canoes. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Biology and Environmental Sciences from The University of Michigan.

• The Michael S. Klein '74 Chair in Computer Science

  The Michael S. Klein '74 Chair in Computer Science was established in 1982 by Michael S. Klein ’74 to widen student interaction with computers and to ensure that the three important ingredients of academic excellence are present at US: a committed, talented faculty; a broad well-rounded curriculum, and superior educational facilities that promote and support individual pursuit of excellence.
  
  Chair holder Peter Sweeney, who has taught at US since 2014, teaches Upper School computer science and heads the US Robotics program. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Miami University and his master of arts degree from Cleveland State University.

   

• The Rowland P. McKinley, Jr. Endowment for Teaching Excellence

  The Rowland P. McKinley, Jr. Endowment for Teaching Excellence was established in 2002 by Mrs. Barbara Ruhlman and The Thomas F. Peterson Foundation, and Susan and Bill Oberndorf ’71 in honor of Rowland P. McKinley, Jr., headmaster from 1963 to 1988 to honor dedicated teaching and commitment which have always been hallmarks of a US education.

• The Nathaniel D. McLaughlin Chair in Science

  The Nathaniel D. McLaughlin Chair in Science was established by the Class of ’38 on the occasion of their 60th reunion to celebrate and support exceptional teaching of science in the tradition of Nate McLaughlin, physics and chemistry teacher. The chair is awarded to a teacher whose dedication to his or her students and subject is extraordinary and whose compelling teaching creates in boys a thirst for further scientific exploration and education. 

• The Donald C. Molten Chair in Athletics

  

  The Donald C. Molten Chair in Athletics was established in 1997 by board members, family, friends, former students, and teaching colleagues in honor of Donald C. Molten, a beloved teacher and coach. It recognizes the important contributions that members of the athletic department make to the daily lives of boys at University School. 
  
  Chair holder William Jones is the Director of Physical Education, grades K-8, and coaches middle school cross country and baseball. He received his bachelor of science degree from Centenary College of Louisiana, and his master of education degree from University of Arkansas.

• The F.J. O'Neill Chair in Guidance and Counseling

  

  The F.J. O'Neill Chair in Guidance and Counseling was established in 2001 by Mrs. Nancy O’Neill, Mr. Hugh O’Neill and the F.J. O’Neill Charitable Trust. The chair helps to assure that the quality of guidance at University School will continue at the highest level.
  
  Chair holder Leslie Muha, who joined the US faculty in 2008, is the Jr.K- Grade 8 Professional School Counselor. She received her M.Ed. degree from John Carroll University, her M.A. degree in reading from Eastern Michigan University, and her B.S. degree in education from Kent State University.

• The James and Donna Reid Chair in History

  The James and Donna Reid Chair in History (formerly the Chair in Western Civilization) was established in 2005 (renamed in 2022) by James and Donna Reid to support the History Program at US. University School acknowledges the Reid’s passion for the role Western Civilization has played in the teaching of history here and the role it plays in the context of the teaching of World History. This endowment celebrates the accomplishment of outstanding teaching by awarding the chair to a stellar member of the History department. It provides significant financial support to honor an outstanding history teacher, to ensure superior academic leadership, and to build faculty compensation. It also supports enrichment and travel, providing firsthand experiences for faculty and student learning. 

• The Carter Sanders Chair in Modern Languages

  The Carter Sanders Chair in Modern Languages was established in his honor in 1988 by his former students Mr. Bruce Dunn '52, Mr. and Mrs. Jon A. Lindseth '52, Mr. and Mrs. J. Richard Matson '53, Mr. Robert F. Meyerson '54, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick C. O'Brien '54, Mr. and Mrs. Jon Outcalt '55, and Mr. and Mrs. John F. Turben '53. The chair provides challenges, rewards, and prestige to keep outstanding teachers of Modern Languages in US classrooms. 
  
  Chair holder Tracy Daniels, who has taught at US since 1997, teaches Spanish and is the Multicultural Organization advisor.

• The W. Robert Simpson '48 Chair in Entrepreneurship

  The W. Robert Simpson '48 Chair in Entrepreneurship was established in 1983 and revised in 2013 to promote an understanding of the American entrepreneurial system as an integral part of American history and culture. The chair holder promotes leadership to the process of integrating the content, concepts, and historical development of the American entrepreneurial system into the Humanities curriculum of the Upper School. The chair holder develops advanced course work in economic theory and practice for upper school students, and develops student activities to provide opportunities to learn about and experience entrepreneurship.

• The W. Hayden Thompson '45 Chair for Exceptional Faculty Leadership

  The W. Hayden Thompson '45 Chair for Exceptional Faculty Leadership was established in 2007 in memory of Hayden Thompson to honor and commemorate his many years of outstanding service to the school. The chair is awarded approximately every two years to an outstanding member of the faculty who demonstrates leadership qualities above and beyond his or her daily duties.

• The Chi M. Waggoner Chair in English

  The Chi M. Waggoner Chair in English was established in 1996 by Mr. Robert T. Keeler ’32 and Mr. Thomas T. Keeler ’39 in honor of Mr. Chi Waggoner, English and Science master, to support language arts at the Middle School level. 
  
  Chair holder Charlie Oberndorf ’78 joined University School in 1984. He teaches seventh grade English and also serves as seventh grade Class Dean. In addition to his academic responsibilities, Mr. Oberndorf is the advisor for Student Council and Power of the Pen. He is also a science fiction writer and has published several books. He received his B.A. from Dartmouth College.

• The Albert L. Waldron Chair in Classics

  The Albert L. Waldron Chair in Classics was established in 1982 by Mr. W. Hayden Thompson, ’45 in honor of Albert L. Waldron, who served as head of the Latin Department at US from 1915 to 1949. Latin courses were central to the experience of US boys until the late 1960s when some more topical concerns nudged them out of the curriculum. By 1982, Latin had returned to the Middle School and there were beginning and intermediate Latin classes in the Upper School, but the Classics were not as important as they once had been. The Waldron Chair’s purpose is to foster a renaissance of the study of Classics at US and provide resources to supplement the teaching program. It is based on the strong belief that a challenging Classics curriculum is a solid preparation for life.