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Frank Stanton Chair in Nuclear Security Policy Studies established in Department of Political Science

Endowed chair established with a gift of $5 million from the Stanton Foundation
Frank Stanton
Caption:
Frank Stanton
Credits:
Photo: The Stanton Foundation

MIT’s Department of Political Science and the Stanton Foundation are proud to announce the establishment of the Frank Stanton Chair in Nuclear Security Policy Studies. The endowed chair was established with a gift of $5 million from the Stanton Foundation, which was created by Frank Stanton, former president of CBS.

Stanton’s involvement with nuclear issues began with his appointment to a committee convened by Dwight Eisenhower in 1954 to develop the first comprehensive plan for the survival of the United States following a nuclear attack. Stanton had lead responsibility for developing a plan for national and international communication in the aftermath of a nuclear incident.

The Frank Stanton Chair will recognize a faculty member whose research and teaching focus on nuclear proliferation, deterrence  and arms control. “Since its inception, the MIT Security Studies Program has been committed to the study of the role of nuclear weapons in international politics,” says Barry Posen, director of the Security Studies Program. “We are honored and grateful that the Stanton Foundation has chosen to endow the Frank Stanton Chair, which will provide important new resources to sustain and enhance this effort.”

Political science department head Richard Locke describes the endowed chair as a testament to the strong collaboration between the department and the Security Studies Program. “We believe that this new chair will not only strengthen our already-excellent security studies group,” he says, “but also help the department fulfill its mission of promoting research and teaching aimed at addressing some of the world’s great challenges.”

A search to recruit an outstanding candidate for this new chair will begin shortly.

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