The University of Michigan will establish the Lenore K. and Robert Damrauer Professorship of Social Policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy to contribute to policies and actions that advance sound U.S. environmental policies. The professorship was created through a $2.5 million commitment from the Kohn Charitable Trust along with an additional gift from an anonymous alumni donor. The Lenore K. and Robert Damrauer Professorship is the 6th professorship in the Ford School’s Kohn Collaborative for Social Policy. Together, the professorships are designed to dramatically expand the school’s expertise and impact in domestic social policy.
“This endowment represents a significant investment in the future of environmental policy at the Ford School, and the opportunity to shape policies and drive meaningful changes that safeguard our planet,” said Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes. “It is a testament to the enduring values of Hal and Carol, as well as our anonymous alumni donor. We are incredibly grateful.”
Through this gift, Harold and Carol Kohn wished to honor Hal’s sister and brother-in-law. “The Kohn Charitable Trust is honored to endow the Lenore K. and Robert Damrauer Professorship of Social Policy in the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy—a living, perpetual gift that honors their values and honors the University of Michigan where their union began,” said Harold Kohn.
In 1965, Lenore Kohn and Robert Damrauer received their Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry from University of Michigan. The opportunities the University afforded them provided a strong foundation and the wherewithal to pursue their professional and lifelong interests. The Damrauers possessed a great love of nature and were always aware of the impact of the environment on people’s lives. They were committed to improving and protecting the environment and were aware of its progressive destruction by mismanagement and by climate change.
“We know of no better home for this professorship than the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy,” Kohn continued. “The University of Michigan, a public university, has stood as a beacon for sound public policy that defines this country. It has, with dignity and respect, encouraged debate of different opinions and ideas. It has supported and enabled constructive changes in our society.”
About the Kohn Collaborative
Since 2018, Hal and Carol Kohn and the Kohn Charitable Trust have committed over $20 million to the Ford School to establish the Kohn Collaborative for Social Policy, a hub that will catalyze interdisciplinary research and policy impact to promote sound social policy and opportunity for all U.S. residents. The Collaborative consists of three pillars: 6 Kohn Professors, Kohn Scholars, and policy impact.