San Diego

A new history chair in American foreign policy will be established at San Diego State University as a result of a $250,000 donation from alumnus Dwight E. Stanford, a native San Diegan and retired attorney.

Stanford’s gift sets up the first endowed chair at SDSU and becomes the sixth overall, along with chairs in accounting, communication, geography, public health and seismology.

Donations for endowed chairs at California public universities allow the institutions to augment salary and research stipends, thereby attracting perhaps more distinguished candidates than otherwise possible if recruitment took place for a regular faculty position.

SDSU expects to conduct a national search to fill the position. History department Chairman David DuFault said the department would like to hire an expert in contemporary Asian affairs.