Five endowed positions have been awarded to professors by the Washburn University School of Law. The positions bring extra funding that the professors can use for professional development and research, according to The Topeka Capital-Journal.
The five recipients include William Rich, David Pierce, James Concannon, Amy Deen Westbrook and Linda Henry Elrod. All but Elrod are first-time recipients of the five-year endowed chairs and professorships. Elrod has been reaffirmed as the holder of an endowed professorship.
The James A. Ahrens Chair in Torts and Constitutional Law was awarded to Rich, who has previously served as the associate dean and acting dean of the law school.
Pierce was awarded the Norman R. Pozez Chair in Business and Transactional Law.
Elrod, who is the Director of the Children and Family Law Center, was reaffirmed as the Richard S. Righter Distinguished Professor of Law.
The Senator Robert J. Dole Distinguished Professor of Law distinction was awarded to Concannon. Concannon has served as the dean of the school and teaches appellate practice.
Westbrook was awarded the Kurt M. Sager Memorial Distinguished Professor of International and Commercial Law. Westbrook’s focus is international finance and transactions.
The dean of the law school, Thomas Romig, said that the endowments honor the professors for the work they have done in their field and at the school.
“It’s a recognition of outstanding professors who have been at Washburn for a number of years,” Romig said.