UC Santa Barbara has received a $600,000 gift from UCSB alumnus Anton Vonk (MA '05) and his wife, Diane Boss, to establish a new endowed chair in political science.

The Vonk Professorship will support the teaching and research of a renowned scholar specializing in international security studies related to energy and the environment.  The Vonk Chair will also be afflicated with UCSB's Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management.

Department Chair John Woolley notes: "The Anton Vonk Chair in International Security gives the political science department an opportunity to add a senior colleague in one of the most interesting emerging areas of security studies--environment and security."

More information, including comments from the donors, Dean of Social Sciences Melvin Oliver,  and additional comments from Chair John Woolley, can be found in the complete press release on the UCSB Office of Public affairs website, http:www.ia.ucsb.edu/pa.