Radcliffe Professorship Established

Terrence Murray, a 1962 graduate of Harvard College, has donated one of the largest gifts in Radcliffe history to establish the first professorship of the new Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Named in honor of his wife, Radcliffe alumna Suzanne Murray, the new professorship will be endowed by a $1.5 million gift from Murray and $1.5 million in matching funds from Harvard University.

“We are enormously grateful to Terry and Suzanne for their generosity and leadership,” said President Neil L. Rudenstine. “This professorship marks the first step in creating an outstanding community of scholars, visiting faculty, and practitioners, who will pursue work of the highest quality in a range of disciplines and the creative arts. Terry Murray is well known for his vision and effectiveness in the financial world. He and Suzanne have also been, throughout their lives, loyal and exceptionally generous citizens of Harvard and Radcliffe. I am deeply grateful to them for this vote of confidence in this important new Institute.”

Professors at the Radcliffe Institute are salaried appointments of up to five years, during which scholars will pursue advanced research in their respective fields. Radcliffe professors may also teach in the various schools of Harvard by arrangement with the appropriate deans, and in the Radcliffe Seminars.

“This new professorship will not only honor my wife, Suzanne, who worked to create the new Radcliffe Institute, it will allow individuals to conduct advanced research in a unique and highly intellectual environment,” said Terrence Murray. “In its new incarnation, Radcliffe will become a hub of cutting-edge scholarship and research and, I believe, the source of many solutions to challenges facing the world.”

“I am so happy that Terry feels as I do, that the Radcliffe Institute will be a strong and distinguished center for learning and scholarship,” added Suzanne Murray. “As someone who has devoted considerable time and energy promoting Radcliffe during its capital campaign, making this gift is especially gratifying.”

While many fellowships and professorships are dedicated to a specific field of study, the Suzanne Murray professorship will have no such boundaries. Men and women in any academic or professional discipline may be eligible for the professorship. The final appointment will be made by the dean of the Radcliffe Institute.

As a result of last year’s merger agreement with Harvard University, on Oct. 1 Radcliffe College became the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Building upon many existing research and educational programs, the new Radcliffe Institute is a community of scholars, professionals, and creative artists who pursue advanced work within a broad range of fields. The Radcliffe Institute sustains a commitment to the study of women, gender, and society.

“We are forever grateful to Suzanne and Terry Murray for their generosity, vision, and dedication to Radcliffe,” said Mary Maples Dunn, acting dean of the Radcliffe Institute. “Many people helped to conceive of the new Radcliffe Institute, and many will help build its programs. The Murrays have helped to do both.”

Terrence Murray is chairman and chief executive officer of FleetBoston Financial Corporation. Highly active in civic and community affairs, he has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Harvard Alumni Association and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

In addition to being a member of the Radcliffe College class of 1962, Suzanne Murray served as a member of the Radcliffe Board of Trustees from 1993 to 1999 and as a national co-chair of the Campaign for Radcliffe. She was a key player in the formation of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.

To date, the Campaign for Radcliffe has raised over $84 million toward its goal of $100 million. The campaign will be completed this year. Since announcing its intent to formally merge with Harvard and create the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study last April, Radcliffe has received nearly $12 million in new gifts.