The Kermit Champa Memorial Fund was established in memory of Kermit Swiler Champa, who inspired generations of students during the 34 years that he taught at Brown, from 1970 until his death in 2004. He was the first Andrea V. Rosenthal Professor of art history, and a specialist in modernism and 19th-century European and American painting.
In the spirit of Professor Champa's own privileged exposure to original works of art while a beginning graduate student, this fund for travel is intended to encourage and promote art historical training. Every year students at an early stage of developing their dissertation proposals are invited to apply for grants from the Champa Fund to defray the costs of travel undertaken to build visual and critical discernment and interpretive confidence. Travel destinations might include locations where there are exhibitions, performances, museums and site-specific or ephemeral installations. The amount of the award usually ranges from $500-$1,500, and is intended to supplement other forms of graduate research funding.