The James W. Effron University Professorship

Craig W. EffronThis Penn Integrates Knowledge (PIK) University Professorship was created in 2008 by Craig and Caryn Effron to honor Craig’s father, James W. Effron (1931–2005). Born and raised in Poughkeepsie, NY, James W. Effron was a graduate of Princeton University and served in the U.S. Army. He spent his career with Effron Oil Company, serving as its President for many years.

A Wharton graduate, Craig W. Effron is the Founding Partner of Scoggin Capital Management, a hedge fund in New York. A strong advocate for making Penn more financially accessible, Mr. Effron’s Penn philanthropy includes the Craig Effron Challenge Fund to provide matching dollars for new scholarship funds.

The PIK Program was launched by President Gutmann in 2005 as a University-wide initiative to recruit exceptional faculty members whose research and teaching exemplify the integration of knowledge across disciplines and who are appointed in at least two Schools at Penn.

 

Current Chairholder

The James W. Effron University Professorship is currently open.


Previous Chairholder

  • John D. Gearhart, PhD