Spider family establishes new faculty fellowship

The Cramer family’s time with the Jepson School of Leadership Studies runs deep. Over nearly two decades, Cramers have been students, Jepson Student Government Association presidents, Executive Board of Advisors members, and Jepson EDGE leaders. Now, they’ve added another role: creators of the Cramer Family Faculty Fellowship.

“Jepson holds a meaningful place in our hearts,” said Alex Cramer, ’11. “We’re happy to trade capital for the expansion of knowledge.”

The fellowship provides a two-year reduction of teaching requirements to its inaugural recipient, Dr. Christopher von Rueden, professor of leadership studies and scholar of status hierarchies in small-scale societies.

“The fellowship is intended to provide time for intellectual curiosity and research that may not otherwise be available while teaching a full course load,” Cramer said.

For Cramer, von Rueden’s selection was an easy call. In the past year alone, von Rueden taught at full capacity, received the university’s Distinguished Scholarship Award, continued leading a nongovernmental organization, and was promoted to full professor — all while maintaining his research.

“Teaching is an act of service and leadership,” said Cramer, “and teachers need to be able to go out into the world, have new experiences, explore new research, write more, and bring that all back to the classroom for the benefit of their students. The fellowship gives them this ability.”