An endowed chair/professorship is the highest academic award bestowed on a faculty member at Northwestern State University. The award is an honor for the named recipient and also an enduring tribute to the donor.

Endowed chairs and professorships are crucial for recruiting and retaining exemplar faculty members whose accomplishments in teaching, research, and/or service activities enrich the academic environment of a department, college, university, or the state. As a result of funding provided by endowments, the quality of higher education in specific programs is enhanced, and economic development in the community, region, or state is promoted.

An endowed chair and professor can touch the lives of many students through coursework, mentoring, or scholarship. Often, students work with endowed faculty to inspire innovation and creative ideas or to solve particular problems or issues and/or gain advancements in a particular field of study.

The Voices of Influence Endowed Professorship Celebration is an avenue to elevate the endowed professors within the Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development