FCR 8


Office of the President
February 25, 2003





Members, Board of Trustees:


               GIFTS TO GEORGE A DIGENIS PROFESSORSHIP/CHAIR
                         IN DRUG DESIGN AND DISCOVERY

Recommendation: that the Board of Trustees accept gifts of $15,750 and pledges of $52,900
from Dr. George A. Digenis, corporations and individual donors to create and endow the George
A. Digenis Professorship/Chair in Drug Design and Discovery in the College of Pharmacy.

In accordance with the Council on Postsecondary Education guidelines, the Board of Trustees
acknowledges that it has primary responsibility for the implementation of the Endowment Match
Program and is responsible for providing oversight of all endowment funds.

Background: Dr. Digenis, a College of Pharmacy professor emeritus, retired in 2001 after 35
years of service as a professor of medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutics in the Division of
Pharmaceutical Sciences. During his career, he also was a professor in the College of
Medicine's Department of Nuclear Medicine. Business partners of Dr. Digenis, former students
and corporations want to recognize Dr. Digenis' distinguished career by establishing a
professorship in his honor. Pfizer, Inc., of New York, N.Y., has pledged $50,000. Fund raising
for the initiative will continue toward developing the professorship into an endowed chair. The
$68,650 in gifts and pledges is eligible for matching funds from the state's Research Challenge
Trust Fund.



Action taken:  El Approved



q Disapproved    q Other