According to LSA Dean Anne Curzan, “a Collegiate Professorship is one of the highest honors the College awards to active faculty members who warrant the distinctive recognition that a named professorship carries … Each Collegiate Professorship carries a unique name, selected by the candidate in consultation with the College, along with an annual $3,000 salary and $5,000 research supplement.” Thad Polk chose to name his professorship in honor of Samuel David Epstein, the Marilyn J. Shatz Collegiate Professor of Linguistics and Cognitive Science, who passed away in 2019.
