UCLA University Professors

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The title University Professor is reserved for scholars of international distinction, who are recognized and respected as teachers of exceptional ability. Appointments may be made from distinguished tenured faculty. University Professors are appointed by the Regents, at the recommendation of the president after consultation with the chancellor and Academic Senate of the appointee’s home campus.

In over 50 years, only 40 professors throughout the UC system have ever been appointed University Professor. Since 1972, six UCLA faculty have been given this honor, including one active UCLA faculty member.

  • Donald J. Cram, 1919-2001 (Chemistry and Biochemistry), 1988
  • Robert B. Edgerton, 1931-2016 (Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences), 1996
  • M. Frederick Hawthorne, 1928-2021 (Chemistry and Biochemistry), 1998
  • Julian S. Schwinger, 1918-1994 (Physics), 1980
  • Lynn Townsend White, Jr., 1907-1987 (History), 1972
  • Owen N. Witte, 1949 — (Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics), 2016