We have an exciting opportunity both to honor President Howard W. Hunter, the 14th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and to promote an academic chair in Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University’s School of Religion. This program will enable generations of students to learn about one of the world’s most dynamic religions and to help bring greater understanding about the Church.

Named for the beloved California prophet, this will be the first ongoing Mormon Studies program outside of Utah and the first graduate-level program of its kind in the world. It will be devoted to the study of the history, people, traditions, doctrine and practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as its relationship with other faith traditions. The program will maintain academic rigor in a respectful examination of Latter-day Saint traditions, thereby reflecting President Hunter’s devotion to rigorously studying, living and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Approval for the use of President Hunter’s name for this academic chair was granted by the Hunter family and by the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 8, 2004