The law school has done an effusive writeup announcing my (temporary) chair: UM Law Awards Silvers-Rubenstein Endowed Distinguished Professorship to A. Michael Froomkin.
Recent Bluessky Posts- Good grief: Head of no-longer-relevant right-wing Manhattan Institute earns $800,000 per year. No wonder he's out to undermine Mamdani. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/29/n... August 9, 2026 Michael Froomkin
- Facebook, ie Meta and Zuckerberg, bankrolling PACs in multiple states, including Florida, to support Republican state legislators who will be friendly to AI interests--like no regulation. Will the public learn of it and care? jasongarcia.substack.com/p/facebook-i... August 9, 2026 Michael Froomkin
- Very poor message discipline, alas. August 9, 2026 Michael Froomkin
- "Shapiro for Governor" sent a fundraising email on the Sabbath, I complained on the Sabbath. August 8, 2026 Michael Froomkin
- I hesitate to call this a wrist slap for the officer who filed the misleading report, but if the glove fits... August 7, 2026 Michael Froomkin
Effusive perhaps, but right on the money. Congratulations on the greatly deserved honor, Michael, and may you wear it in good health!
Congratulations, Michael.
Q: (since I’m not an academic): What does it mean? Do you get some extra money above your salary to pursue some particular goal? What’s its purpose? What did Bruce Winick do when he was there?
(Not a snarky slam – I really have no idea, and am curious what these sorts of things actually mean for the recipiants.)
Chairs vary. They’re considered an honor. Usually the honor comes with some sort of funding, either pay or resources or both. There are rarely strings attached (and this one has an emolument but no strings). If my experience is any guide, they make your parents very happy.
Bruce Winick didn’t go anywhere — unlike most chairs that you hold indefinitely, this is a one-year rotating chair (not unheard of, but less common), and he was the first to have it. Bruce may be the most productive member of our faculty. Despite being nearly blind he writes up a storm, edits a journal, and is starting an institute. See Bruce Winick’s homepage for more.