Introducing the Robert J. Yanal Legacy Endowment Fund: Investing in education, empowering students

Wayne State University's Philosophy Department is celebrating the recent establishment of a new student-focused endowment, the Robert J. Yanal Legacy Fund.

The $25,000 gift was donated by Professor Emeritus Robert Yanal, who taught at Wayne State for thirty-seven years before his retirement in 2011. The endowment will support academic scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, student research and travel to conferences, and other educational expenses for students.

Professor Yanal created the endowment in recognition of the profound impact philosophical education can have on shaping young minds and preparing students for the world outside of college. He seeks to reward the intellectual courage of those who study philosophy, as well as to inspire other alumni, friends, and members of the community to join him in investing in the next generation of thinkers.

During his career at Wayne State, Professor Yanal taught a number of courses including Introduction to Philosophy, Critical Thinking, Philosophy of Art, Philosophy of Law, Social and Political Philosophy, and various graduate seminars-his favorite being on emotion and fiction.

He is also an accomplished researcher, having published many academic journal articles and four books on topics such as aesthetics, law, logic, philosophy of film and 20 journal articles. He is enjoying his retirement, however, as "there's nothing like a really long sabbatical to clear the mind."

The philosophy department shares Professor Yanal's hope to build on the Legacy Endowment in the coming years through further philanthropic donations.