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LaBrosse-Levinson Distinguished Professorship In Religion, Culture And Social Theory
2004
The LaBrosse-Levinson Distinguished Professorship in Religion, Culture, and Social Theory was established through the generosity of Wynnette LaBrosse and Frank Levinson (Graduate Arts & Sciences ’78, ’80). The professorship will reside in the University’s Center on Religion and Democracy. Established in 2001, this interdisciplinary, nonpartisan research center examines the role of religion in our public life through the formation of democratic ideals, institutions, and practices. Among the University’s most generous benefactors, Ms. LaBrosse and Mr. Levinson provided early support for the center’s programs, outreach efforts, and operating needs. Ms. LaBrosse is president of the Agora Foundation in San Mateo, California. Mr. Levinson is president and chief technical officer of Finisar Corporation, a fiberoptic communication systems company he founded in 1987. The firm is based in Sunnyvale, California. In addition to funding this professorship, Ms. Labrosse and Mr. Levinson also provided an extraordinary gift for the Department of Astronomy, where Mr. Levinson completed his master’s degree and doctorate.
About This Fund
Information on funds to which you made gifts after June 30, 2012 will be provided next year to allow time for measurable growth.
Many donors may have given to the fund; if so, the amount of your gift(s) is included in the figures noted.
Definitions
Market value is a measure of the value of a fund within the institution's endowment, based on the value of that fund's "shares" of the institution's endowment on a particular date.
Endowment distribution is the earnings that can be spent on the stated fund purpose during a fiscal year. The endowment distribution was not used if a professorship was vacant, a scholarship or fellowship was not awarded, or if a fund's criteria were not met. In this case, the endowment distribution was reinvested in the University's Long-Term Pool endowment for growth.
The University's Endowment Spending Policy
The University’s endowment spending policy calls for annual increases tied to the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI). The current spending policy calls for a 3.8 percent increase in the annual distribution, unless such increase causes the distribution to fall outside a range that is 4.0 percent on the low end, and 6.0 percent on the high end, of the previous June 30 market value of the University of Virginia Investment Management Company (UVIMCO) Long Term Pool. If the distribution falls outside of this range, the Finance Committee may recommend resetting the distribution rate to an appropriate level.
For the 2012 fiscal year, application of the endowment distribution policy resulted in a spending distribution equal to 4.63 percent of the June 30, 2011, market value.
You may also read more about the University's endowment on the UVIMCO website at http://www.virginia.edu/uvimco. This site provides the most current information about the performance of the overall endowment fund.
