Knapp Chair of Liberal Arts
The Knapp Chair of Liberal Arts was established in 1995 by a generous endowment from the estate of Mary and Churchill Knapp of La Jolla, California, long-time supporters of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of San Diego. The earnings have helped to support the expenses of distinguished scholars who are appointed by the Dean representing the Arts and Humanities, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Social Sciences. The Knapp Chairs contribute to the vitality and centrality of liberal arts in the College by teaching and interacting with students, collaborating with faculty, and presenting public lectures that engage our campus community.
Knapp Chairs give a public lecture during their residency, which is recorded and posted online. Faculty and students may nominate a Knapp Chair of Liberal Arts.
2020-21 Knapp Chairs
Arts and Humanities
Noam Chomsky, PhD
Laureate Professor in the Department of Linguistics in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Agnese Nelms Haury chair in the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice at the University of Arizona and institute professor and professor of linguistics and philosophy, emeritus, in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Upcoming Events
- Mar22
Language, the Liberal Arts and the Challenges of the 21st Century | Noam Chomsky, PhD
Monday, March 22, 2021 // 6 p.m.Virtual Event
2019-20 Knapp Chairs
Arts and Humanities
Mark Edmundson, PhD
Professor of English, University of Virginia
Arts and Humanities
William Deresiewicz, PhD
Author, essayist and literary critic
2018-19 Knapp Chairs
Social Sciences
Erika Doss, PhD
Professor of American Studies, University of Notre
Arts and Humanities
Melissa Farley, PhD
Founder and Director, Prostitution Research and Education
Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Linda Boland, PhD
Associate Professor of Biology, University of Richmond
2017-18 Knapp Chairs
Arts and Humanities
Mario Ramiro, PhD
Professor, Sculpture, Performative Practices and Photography Studies at the Art Department of the School of Art and Communications, University of Sao Paulo
Social Sciences
Linda Tuhiwai Smith, PhD, FRSNZ, CNZM
Pro Vice-Chancellor Maori, Dean of the School of Maori and Pacific Development, and Professor, Education and Maori Development, University of Waikato (Hamilton, New Zealand)
Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Martin Demaine
Erik Demaine, PhD
Martin Demaine is a Robotics Engineer and Visiting Scientist in the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, the Angelika and Barton Weller Artist-in-Residence for the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and the Technical Instructor in the Glass Lab for the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2016-17 Knapp Chairs
Social Sciences
Mike Davis, PhD
Distinguished Professor, Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside
Professor Emeritus, History at the University of California, Irvine
Arts and Humanities
Teofilo Ruiz, PhD
Professor, History & Robert and Dorothy Wellman Chair in Medieval History at the University of California, Los Angeles
Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Kimberly Tanner, PhD
Professor, Biology and Director, SEPAL at San Francisco State University
Humanities Center
College of Arts and Sciences
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