CHAIRS

Gov. George E. Pataki Professorship in International Commercial Law
James Thuo Gathii
The Governor George E. Pataki Professorship supports the teaching, scholarship and community leadership of faculty members in the forefront of international commercial law and legal practice.  It was funded through a gift from Morris "Marty" Silverman '36, retired New York City businessman and well-known philanthropist, who died in 2006. Announcement of the endowment was made by former secretary of state Henry Kissinger at Albany Law School's 1998 commencement ceremony.

Kate Stoneman Chair in Law and Democracy
Katherine "Kate" Stoneman, who in 1898 became the first woman to graduate from Albany Law School, was the first woman admitted to the practice of law in New York State. In celebration of her extraordinary achievements and to ensure that her contributions to society are recognized and continue to instruct and inspire new generations of students in law and democracy, a fund-raising effort was begun in 1997, with the first visiting professor joining the faculty in the fall of 2000.

Hon. Harold R. Tyler Chair in Law and Technology
Sheldon W. Halpern
The Tyler Chair, Albany Law School's first endowed professorship, was funded in 1996 through gifts from Judge Tyler's friends, associates and law clerks, as well as a bequest from Judge Tyler, a former United States assistant district attorney and professor at Albany Law School. The recipient of the chair works with students to explore and better understand the daunting legal problems presented by modern science and technology.   

DISTINGUISHED PROFESSORSHIPS  

Justice David Josiah Brewer Distinguished Professorship
Ira Mark Bloom
The Brewer Professorship is named for Justice David Josiah Brewer, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and member of the Albany Law School Class of 1858.

Jay and Ruth Caplan Distinguished Professorship
Stephen E. Gottlieb
The professorship was named in memory of its benefactors, the late Ruth Caplan and her husband, Jay Caplan, distinguished member of the Class of 1946. Mr. and Mrs. Caplan established trusts naming Albany Law School as beneficiary which, upon their deaths, were used to endow the professorship.    

Albert and Angela Farone Distinguished Professorship
Timothy D. Lytton
The professorship was named for Angela Farone and her husband Albert Farone, Class of 1925, a member of the Albany Law School Board of Trustees and a recipient of the Trustee Gold Medal. Extremely generous bequests left by Mr. and Mrs. Farone endowed the professorship.  

Justice Robert H. Jackson Distinguished Professorship
Robert H. Jackson, Class of 1912, was a U.S. attorney general, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and chief prosecutor at the Nuremburg Trials.  

James Campbell Matthews Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence
Anthony Paul Farley
The Matthews Professorship was funded through an anonymous bequest. It is named in honor of James Campbell Matthews, Class of 1870, the first African-American graduate of Albany Law School and the first black judge in New York State. In 1872, his first major lawsuit resulted in a victory which forced the City of Albany to desegregate its public schools.

President William McKinley Distinguished Professorship
in Law and Public Policy
Paul Finkelman
The professorship is named for the 25^th President of the United States, William McKinley, a member of the Albany Law School Class of 1867. It was established to expand and maintain excellence and leadership in Government Law and Public Policy. The recipient of the professorship must have a distinguished record of achievement, including a national reputation for research and publication excellence in the area of law and public policy.

Raymond and Ella Smith Distinguished Professorship
Patricia E. Salkin
Named for Raymond Smith, a respected Albany attorney and Ella Smith, a community advocate, the professorship was funded through bequests from Mr. and Mrs. Smith which named Albany Law School as beneficiary.