In June 2011, Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington, a Fordham alumnus of 1977, made a $2 million gift to endow the Denzel Washington Chair in Theatre, and a $250,000 gift to establish the Denzel Washington Endowed Scholarship for an undergraduate student studying theatre at Fordham.

Guest Faculty Chairs

Tony Award-nominated director Liesl Tommy
Denzel Washington Chair Liesl Tommy: Command ‘Respect’ and Don’t Give Up the Ghost

Tony Award-nominated actor LaTanya Richardson Jackson
Denzel Washington Chair LaTanya Jackson on Rhythm, Playwriting, and Respect

Actor Michael Potts
Actor Michael Potts to Take Denzel Washington Chair

Golden Globe-winning actress, director, playwright Regina Taylor
Golden Globe Winner Named New Denzel Chair

Drama Desk Award-winning actor Stephen McKinley Henderson
Stephen McKinley Henderson on Denzel-Directed “Fences”

Obie-winning director JoAnne Akalatis
Acclaimed Director Named as Denzel Washington Theatre Chair

Tony Award-winning actor, director Kenny Leon
Going Universal with Kenny Leon, New Denzel Washington Chair

Tony Award-winning set designer Christine Jones
Immersing the Course Syllabus with Christine Jones

Emmy-winning actor Joe Morton
Joe Morton to Teach at Fordham

Tony Award-winning actress, director Phylicia Rashād
Denzel Washington Endows Fordham Theatre Chair, Scholarship

“Show me a successful individual, and I’ll show you someone who has had positive influences in his or her life. The late Bob Stone, my mentor, was a former actor and professor at Fordham University. Bob was one of those influences in my life. He believed in me and gave me something to live up to.”  - Denzel Washington

Go behind the scenes of Magnolia, written and directed by Regina Taylor