Endowed chairs are the University of Utah and College of Pharmacy's primary means of recognizing academic distinction, promoting excellence, and enabling the university to attract, retain, and honor distinguished faculty members. For the chair holders, appointment to an endowed chair signals recognition of both personal achievements and of the institution’s commitment to their fields of inquiry and teaching.

Endowed chairs are supported by gifts at two levels:

• Endowed Chair: $1 million level

• Presidential Endowed Chair: $1.5 million level