Thanks to a generous pledge from Lionelle Elsesser (AB '66, MS '67) and husband James Elsesser (BS '66, MS '67), GSLIS is one step closer to realizing its first faculty chair, the Endowed Chair in the History of Libraries and the Information Professions. Gifts of any size will be matched on a one-to-one basis up to a total contribution of $225,000 by the Elsessers, and the resulting $450,000 will complete the amount needed to fund the chair.
New gifts from alumni, matched by the Elsessers's pledge, will join the thoughtful contributions of those individuals who helped establish the endowment fund, including Don Davis (PhD '72) and Avis Davis, Mark Tucker (PhD '83) and Barbara Tucker, and Laurel Grotzinger (MS '58, PhD '64). “We’re delighted to work with other donors to wrap up what the PhD graduates envisioned and began,” said Lionelle.
Endowed positions attract distinguished faculty whose teaching and research in turn attract exceptional students. The endowed chair will strengthen GSLIS’s strong tradition of academic excellence in the history of libraries and the information professions—the understanding of which is crucial to advancing the field of library and information science. When fully funded, the endowment will support part of the salary of the faculty member who holds the chair, a graduate student fellowship, and relevant library collections and services.
The Elsessers are longtime advocates for GSLIS, giving generously of their time and resources to further the School’s mission of teaching, research, and public engagement. Together they have funded several fellowships—the GSLIS Alumni Challenge Fellowship, the Katharine Sharp First-Time Donor Fellowship, and the Lionelle H. Elsesser Fellowship.
Lionelle is a retired GSLIS adjunct assistant professor with a background in medical librarianship and instructional technology who previously served as executive director of the Health Sciences Communications Association. James is a former chairman and CEO of I.B.C. and former CFO of Ralston Purina. They enjoy traveling and spending time with their two children and six grandchildren.