Dean Chaden Djalali, University of Iowa Alumni Association Dean's Chair in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, announced the appointment of three faculty members to named, endowed professorships in recognition of their distinguished and ongoing achievements in teaching and research.
John F. Finamore, professor and chair of the Department of Classics, was appointed the inaugural Erling B. “Jack” Holtsmark Professor in Classics. David Gier, professor and director of the School of Music, was named the inaugural Erich Funke Professor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Qihe Tang, professor of actuarial science, was appointed an F. Wendell Miller Professor.
Djalali said he was delighted to recognize each of the professors on behalf of the university and college. “I am very pleased to appoint Professors Finamore, Gier and Tang to these prestigious professorships,” Djalali said. “Each of these scholars is a world-class teacher committed to innovative instruction of students at all levels, and each has greatly influenced his discipline through scholarly and creative production. These professors are emblematic of the excellence of our college’s faculty, and I am grateful for the private philanthropic support that has made these professorships possible.”
John F. Finamore, who joined the UI faculty in 1983, focuses his research on ancient philosophy, the Platonic tradition and Latin poetry. The chair of the Department of Classics, he is the author of numerous highly respected books and articles, and is editor of the International Journal of the Platonic Tradition as well as president of the U.S. section of the International Society for Neoplatonic Studies. He teaches courses in Greek and Roman philosophy, word power, Greek and Latin. Finamore earned his doctoral degree from Rutgers University in 1983.
The Holtsmark Professorship was named in honor of Professor Emeritus Erling B. "Jack" Holtsmark. Holtsmark joined the faculty of the Department of Classics in 1965, served as its chair from 1981 to 1993, and retired in 1997. The professorship was established in Holtsmark's honor by an estate gift to the University of Iowa Foundation from Clyde D. Stoltenberg of Wichita, Kan. Stoltenberg earned a B.A. degree in classics from the UI in 1969, and died in 2013. He counted Holtsmark as an important lifelong influence on his life and career.
David Gier has been on the UI faculty since 1995. The director of the School of Music, he teaches trombone and brass chamber music, performs with the Iowa Brass Quintet and serves as principal trombonist for the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. An active soloist, clinician and adjudicator, he has performed and presented at many colleges, universities and professional conferences, including the International Trombone Festival and the New York Brass Symposium. He is a faculty fellow in the UI Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development. His recording of mixed chamber music featuring trombone, titled “Toot tooT,” was released in 2007. Gier earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Yale University in 1992.
The Erich Funke Professorship in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was established by a gift to the UI Foundation from the estate of E. Carmon Moser of Corydon, Iowa, who died in 2012. Moser earned a B.A. degree from the UI in 1942, having majored in German. He named the professorship after his uncle Erich Funke, who was a professor in the Department of German from 1931 to 1960.
Qihe Tang joined the UI faculty as a member of the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science in 2006. His expertise centers on extreme value theory for insurance, finance and quantitative risk management. He is associate editor for five influential journals and has published nearly 100 articles, and he is currently principal investigator for one grant from the National Science Foundation and two grants from the Society of Actuaries. He teaches several key actuarial science courses. Tang earned his doctorate from the University of Science and Technology of China in 2001.
The Miller Professorship is named for F. Wendell Miller, an attorney and farm manager from Rockwell City, Iowa, who died in 1995. The Miller Endowment Trust was established from the Miller estate, with interest and income from the trust divided equally between the UI and Iowa State University to encourage the advancement of academic endeavors.
The University of Iowa Foundation is the preferred channel for private contributions that benefit all areas of the University of Iowa. The UI and UI Foundation are conducting a comprehensive $1.7 billion fundraising campaign, For Iowa. Forever More: The Campaign for the University of Iowa.