Elite Results: Faculty

Nurturing Brilliance

Top-tier faculty are essential to a flagship university, and endowments are one of the most impactful ways to invest in these scholars. In an increasingly competitive higher education market, faculty-focused endowments give LSU a recruitment and retention edge. Importantly, they also afford faculty the financial freedom to pursue their most innovative ideas—creating solutions that elevate lives.

In the E. J. Ourso College of Business, Rajesh Narayanan, the C.J. Brown Distinguished Professor in Real Estate in Honor of L. Heidel Brown and Department of Finance chair, studies the complex worlds of banking, financial markets, and financial institutions. Support from this professorship has equipped Narayanan with resources to expand his research and provide invaluable insights for practical implementation in the business world.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to teach and pursue research in areas of my interest and contribute to the state’s development,” he explained. “Data and data collection are expensive, and funding from the (professorship) goes a long way in alleviating the constraints. I appreciate (the) generous support of research. The funding has been invaluable in creating new knowledge and developing courses on emerging areas such as Fintech and Cryptocurrencies.”

Similarly, the AASP Professorship in the Center for Excellence in Palynology (CENEX) bolstered the pioneering efforts of Geology & Geophysics Associate Professor Sophie Warny. Endowment funding has been a direct investment in Warny’s research on microfossils, including by establishing a state-of-the-art laboratory and equipping her to further contribute to student development.

Warny explained, “Thanks to the endowment, we have one of the best labs in our department. The funding also enables us to support research expenses and send students to conferences. I can use some of the funds for pilot studies that could evolve into large-scale projects or collaborations. CENEX would not be what it is without the endowment, and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead such a remarkable research group at LSU.”

Qinglin Wu, the G.D. Cain Endowed Chair of Agriculture and the Roy O. Martin Sr. Professor in the College of Agriculture, also credits endowed support with creating a platform for him to bridge gaps between faculty members, students, and industry partners.

“My professorship and chair position have amplified my opportunities to collaborate with faculty members, students, and industry partners for teaching, research and development work and competing for research funding at local, state, and national levels,” Wu said.

Narayanan, Warny, and Wu are three of many elite LSU scholars whose work is heightened by endowed giving. Endowed faculty support fuels research, nurtures innovation, and fosters collaboration, shaping both the present and future of academic excellence at LSU.