An endowed academic chair is a faculty position that is permanently funded by an endowed gift. Davis & Elkins College proudly recognizes seven distinguished members of the College as recipients of honorary endowed chairs. When fully funded, each chair represents at least a $1 million gift for the purpose of ensuring and preserving the legacies built by those for whom each honorary chair is named. Endowed chair titles include: The Thomas Richard Ross Chair in History and the Humanities; The S. Benton Talbot Chair in the Natural Sciences and Nursing; The James S. McDonnell Foundation Chair in Business and Economics in honor of Dr. Gloria M. Payne; The Claire Deiss Fiorentino Chair in Theatre Arts; Joyce Butler McKee Allen Chair in Education; A. Jean Minnick Chair in Sport Science; and the G.T. “Buck” Smith Presidential Chair.
“D&E’s seven endowed chairs are named in memory and honor of some of the most respected and revered leaders in the College’s history,” says President Chris A. Wood. “For current faculty named to fill those chairs, it is both a high honor and a responsibility to live up to the lofty standard set. My fellow honorees are all worthy and serve D&E daily with distinction and excellence.”
The Thomas Richard Ross Chair in History and the Humanities was established in 1985. Dr. Ross served as Professor of History from 1949-1985 as well as Academic Dean for many of those years. The Ross Chair ensures the legacy of scholarship and mentorship lives on among professors in history and the humanities. The recipient of this honorary chair is Katherine Osborne, PhD.
Osborne received her Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Kentucky in 2010 and became a part of the D&E community shortly after in 2011. She is Professor of English at D&E. Osborne was the recipient of the 2020 Lois Latham Award for Teaching Excellence through the College, and she has published and presented her work on Victorian literature and culture in addition to scholarship on teaching and learning. She serves as chair of the English department.
The S. Benton Talbot Chair honors Dr. Talbot, a pioneer of academic excellence and leadership as Professor of Biology at Davis & Elkins College from 1926-1958. His commitment to mentoring the whole person lives on in today’s faculty. The Talbot Chair has been providing vital resources for thriving programs in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, and nursing since its establishment in 1985. The recipient of this honorary chair is Shawn Stover, PhD.
Stover pursued post-secondary and graduate level education at Marshall University and the University of Louisville, respectively, before obtaining his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Northern Colorado. His research interests encompass both applied physiology and science education. Stover has served as biology professor at D&E for the past 24 years. His work has been published in several academic journals, including the “Journal of Exercise Physiology” and the “Journal of College Science Teaching.” Stover has twice been awarded the Lois Latham Award for Teaching Excellence at D&E, in 2006 and 2023.
The James S. McDonnell Foundation Chair honors Dr. Gloria M. Payne. Established in 1986, the McDonnell/Payne Chair helps ensure that the Division of Business and Entrepreneurship has the resources it needs to continue serving students with the creativity, vitality, and personalized attention that have made hallmarks of Dr. Payne’s remarkable career. The recipient of this chair is Lisa Smith.
Smith graduated Fairmont State University with degrees in business administration and accounting before pursuing her Master of Accountancy at Stetson University. She is a recipient of the Lois Latham Award for Teaching Excellence from D&E and has received the Outstanding Accounting Educator Award for the state of West Virginia as presented by the West Virginia Society of CPAs.
The Claire Deiss Fiorentino Chair in Theatre Arts was established in 2005 by her son, Antony E. “Tony” Fiorentino. She was Professor of Drama and Speech from 1943-1974 and an active contributor to the Mountain State Forest Festival, helping to direct a pageant in honor of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s visit to the Festival in 1936. The recipient of this chair is Lonnie Martin.
Martin holds a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Electronic Media from American University and has been an independent filmmaker for nearly two decades. His first feature length film was distributed nationally for home video by R2 Films. Martin’s second feature went on to win Best of Fest at the South Carolina Underground Film Festival, Best Director, Best Production Design, and Best Supporting Actress at the Tampa Bay Underground. In 2016, he produced, wrote, and directed a series of sexual harassment training videos for the U.S. Army. He currently serves the College as Assistant Professor of Theatre & Film.
The Joyce Butler McKee Allen Chair in Education has provided professorship and professional development opportunities to honorees since its inception in 2015. This endowed chair was established by Joyce Allen’s four children, John C. Allen Jr., Susan McKee Crimmins, Thomas Braxton McKee and Peter Kingsley. Allen wants to ensure that the Chair provides education majors with a curriculum that will focus on the diagnosis and remediation of myriad learning challenges. The recipient of this honorary chair is Melanie Gribble.
Gribble holds a Master of Education in Special Education with an Autism endorsement and has seven years of experience teaching in public schools. Her research interests focus on differentiating instruction, co-teaching, and behavior management strategies, with a strong commitment to supporting the success of all students. Throughout her career, she has developed a passion for working with students with Autism and ADHD, finding joy in helping them thrive academically and socially.
D&E Professor Emerita and former coach, Dr. A. Jean Minnick, established the A. Jean Minnick Chair in Sport Science in 2017. Minnick served as Professor of Physical Education and Chair of the Department of Health, Sport, and Movement Sciences at D&E from 1963-1998. Minnick coached field hockey at the College for 17 years, including a better-than four-to-one win ratio, 12 undefeated seasons, and national championship contention. The recipient of this chair is Dr. Mary Ann DeLuca.
DeLuca is a graduate of Davis & Elkins College, earning her bachelor’s degree in Physical Education before pursuing master’s and doctorate degrees at West Virginia University. She has spent her career in service of the College, acting as a department chair for the Sport Science Department since 1999, where she would play a pivotal role in establishing Project Life Change. DeLuca is a Lois Latham Award for Teaching Excellence recipient, and she has worked diligently with Waynesburg University, Bridgewater College, and Marshall University to offer articulation agreements that provide seats at these respective institutions for graduates of D&E.
The G.T. “Buck” Smith Presidential Chair was established by members of the Board of Trustees in honor of the College’s 13th President in appreciation for his years of service from 2008 to 2013. The endowment provides discretionary funds for the President to underwrite initiatives that add to the distinctive quality of Davis & Elkins College. The recipient of this honorary chair remains the same as D&E President Chris A. Wood continues to serve the College.
Wood graduated magna cum laude from West Virginia Wesleyan College before pursuing his Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University. He served as vice president for advancement at the University of Mount Olive in North Carolina and at Wesley College in Delaware before his appointment at D&E. Wood returned to West Virginia in 2000 to serve as program and executive director of Mission West Virginia, Inc., an innovative and nationally recognized statewide non-profit organization that works to build capacity for community and faith-based organizations.
