Tulanians establish bequest to support chemistry
For Scott Grayson and Erin Grayson Sapp, Tulane isn’t just their alma mater — it’s a place that shaped their lives and careers in profound ways. Now, they’re ensuring that impact continues for future generations by leaving a bequest to Tulane to establish a professorship in chemistry.
Both Grayson and Sapp had transformative experiences as students at Tulane. Grayson (A&S ’96) found a close-knit community as an undergraduate in the honors dorm, rowed crew and pursued degrees in chemistry, math and history. After Tulane, he received his PhD from Berkeley, and his academic path eventually led him back to Tulane, where he joined the faculty in 2005 as a professor of chemistry, specializing in polymer chemistry.
“I looked at jobs all over the world,” he recalled, “but when I visited Tulane, I realized how much incredible work was happening here. They offered me the position before I left.”
His contributions to the field were recognized in a remarkable way. In 2015, Grayson was named the inaugural Joseph H. Boyer Professor of Chemistry, a position funded by one of Boyer’s former graduate students, Gene Miller (A&S ’54, G *59), and Miller’s wife, Dorothy Lamb. Sapp (SLA *07, *13) followed a different but equally fulfilling academic path.
After earning a master’s in art history, she returned to Tulane for an interdisciplinary PhD that allowed her to craft a program spanning history, English, art history and sociology. “It was an amazing experience,” she said. “I had amazing advisors who let me explore and supported me.” A single term paper evolved into Moving the Chains, a book that examines civil rights in New Orleans through the lens of professional football. The significance of her research was highlighted during Super Bowl LIX week, when the Tulane Center for Sport hosted a panel discussion featuring Pro Football Hall of Famers Bobby Bell and Ron Mix. The event, centered around Sapp’s book, explored how the launch of an NFL franchise forever changed the city — sparking social progress and reshaping New Orleans for the better.
The decision to leave a bequest to Tulane was shaped not only by their positive student experiences but also by the university’s steadfast support during one of their most difficult moments. In 2018, after he came back from a sabbatical in Sweden, Grayson suffered a severe stroke. Tulane and the Department of Chemistry offered unwavering support throughout his recovery. “They were with me every step of the way,” he said. Sapp wholeheartedly agreed. “I’ll never forget it. They were so great.”
Also, Grayson’s experience as the Boyer Professor solidified his belief in the power of faculty endowments, which can provide critical resources for research, student support and professional development. “I want to make sure that the next person has what I had,” he said. Sapp has witnessed firsthand the difference that support makes. “I know how hard Scott works and how challenging getting funding can be,” she said.
When it came to planning their own bequest, the Office of Gift Planning made the process seamless. “They were great about explaining our options,” Sapp said. “After speaking with them, I felt confident that Tulane would honor what we wanted to do.” They hope their planned gift will support a future faculty member in chemistry, but their love for Tulane extends far beyond one department.
“The interdisciplinary nature of Tulane is a huge part of why we both, on polar opposite tracks, have been fulfilled at Tulane,” Sapp said. “Even now, we still are. We both feel at home, appreciated and supported by Tulane. So, while we’re thinking that this money will go to chemistry, our love for Tulane goes beyond that — it’s for the institution as a whole.
