McKnight Awards

The McKnight Awards are made possible by generous donations from the McKnight Foundation.

McKnight Land-Grant Professorship

The goal of the McKnight Land-Grant Professorship Program is to advance the careers of assistant professors at a crucial point in their professional lives. The designation of “McKnight Land-Grant Professor” is held by recipients for a two-year period. This program is administered by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost. 

• Nomination materials

Distinguished McKnight University Professorship

The Distinguished McKnight University Professorship program recognizes outstanding faculty members who have recently achieved full professor status. Recipients hold the title “Distinguished McKnight University Professor” for as long as they remain employed at the University of Minnesota. This program is administered by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost.

• Nomination materials

Imagine Fund

The McKnight Arts and Humanities Endowment has been transformed into the Imagine Fund. The McKnight Arts and Humanities Endowment was established in 1991. From the beginning, the Endowment’s mission has been to support, sustain, and enliven arts and humanities research and activities on the four University campuses. Each year it fulfills that mission by supporting scholarly and creative projects and initiatives that benefit the University community and communities beyond.

McKnight Presidential Fellow Award

The McKnight Presidential Fellows Program is a three-year award given to exceptional faculty who have recently been considered for tenure and promotion to associate professor, to recognize their accomplishments and support their ongoing research and scholarship. Candidates are considered for these awards as part of the regular promotion and tenure review process each year.

McKnight Presidential Endowed Chairs and Professorships

The McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair and the McKnight Presidential Endowed Professorship are among the highest honors for faculty at the University. Recipients are recommended by their college dean and chosen at the discretion of Executive Vice President and Provost Rachel T.A. Croson based, in part, on their academic and research accomplishments and their contributions to advancing the University among its peers.