Congratulations to our fellow division: PT gets first endowed chair!
October 28, 2009

Dr. Jim Gordon, Associate Dean and Chair, announced that a $1 million gift from Tracy Sykes (DPT class of 1998) and her husband Gene Sykes has established the first endowed faculty chair for the Division of Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy. Dr. Linda Fetters has been named the inaugural holder of the Sykes Family Chair in Pediatric Physical Therapy, Health, and Development.

An endowed chair at USC establishes a permanently funded faculty position that will be held by a senior professor who has achieved distinction in the field. The establishment of the Sykes Family Chair ensures that pediatric physical therapy and child health and development will be a focal point for the achievement of excellence within Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at USC for many years to come.

The Division will seek additional funding sources for a $1.5 million total endowment. Tracy and Gene Sykes have generously pledged an additional $250,000 in matching funds to help us achieve that goal.

Tracy and Gene Sykes have been quietly supporting programs within the Division for years, and Tracy is a long-standing member of the Division’s Board of Councilors. Although Tracy almost always wishes to avoid being put in the spotlight, we are compelled to recognize her extraordinary dedication and commitment to our mission. We are inspired by her generosity and awed by her vision. In particular, this gift challenges us to match her generosity with energy and vision on our side to achieve national and international leadership in teaching, research, and clinical practice in pediatric physical therapy.

The official dedication of this gift, along with the installation of Dr. Fetters as the first holder of the chair will take place in a ceremony at University Park Campus on November 18, 2009.

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