Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences has received a $1 million gift from Sandra Taylor Kaupe of Palm Beach, Fla., to create the new Arthur P. Kaupe Assistant Professorship of Molecular Biology at the Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort, N.C.
The gift was announced Thursday by Duke President Richard H. Brodhead and Nicholas School Dean William L. Chameides.
"The Arthur P. Kaupe Chair will bring research and classroom education at the Marine Lab to a whole new level - -- the molecular level," Chameides said. "Our students and faculty will enjoy new opportunities to answer questions about marine ecosystems using molecular tools."
"As an avid outdoorswoman with a lifelong love of the marine environment, Sandy Kaupe appreciates the challenges facing conservationists and resource managers today," Chameides added. "She understands the critical role modern molecular technologies can play in studies of the biology of marine organisms and in developing sound strategies for the management and protection of our marine resources."
Kaupe is a member of the Nicholas School's Board of Visitors. She also serves on the board of the National Coalition for Marine Conservation, and was appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush to serve a five-year term, from 2002 to 2007, on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The Coastal Conservation Association of Florida named her Conservationist of the Year for 2007.
The newly endowed assistant professorship honors her late husband, Arthur P. Kaupe, and underscores her commitment to helping educate future generations of environmental leaders.
Creating a faculty position in molecular biology at the Beaufort campus has been a top priority of Marine Lab Director Cindy L. Van Dover since she assumed leadership of the lab in 2006.
"Molecular-level research techniques are yielding new insights into how populations interact and how organisms respond to changing environmental conditions," Van Dover explained. "Sandy Kaupe's generous gift represents a major step toward realizing our goal of establishing world-class expertise in marine conservation molecular biology at the Marine Lab. It will help enable the Nicholas School to be a leader in this emerging field. Our students and faculty members will benefit from Sandy's vision for years to come."