The University of Michigan has received a $1 million gift from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to endow four postdoctoral humanities positions in the Michigan Society of Fellows, one of the most prestigious postdoctoral fellowship programs in the country.
Additional funds were committed by the Rackham Graduate School to permanently secure these positions. In 2007, a $1.97 million gift from Mellon funded these positions for six years. This new gift ensures the future of the fellows, providing the opportunity for recent Ph.D.s with the time and financial support to prepare the major publication usually required to obtain a tenured faculty position.
“This is an example of the importance an endowment can play. By providing such a gift at this point, we can secure the future of these positions in perpetuity. The original gift from Mellon is significantly enhanced by this one,” said Carol A. Fierke, dean of the Rackham Graduate School and vice provost for academic affairs — graduate studies, and the Jerome and Isabella Karle Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry and professor of biological chemistry.