LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - A drama professor has been chosen to fill Transylvania University's first endowed chair.

Tim Soulis has taught at Transylvania for 14 years and was named the new chair this week by President Charles Shearer. Soulis said he felt honored, but that the benefit of the chair should go to the university.

The W. Paul and Lucille Caudill Little Foundation donated $500,000 and the university was challenged to match the gift to start the endowment. The drama department will receive an allotment of the funds generated from the endowment each year. Soulis says he wants to expand the department, add a faculty member, hold more workshops and travel to New York City with drama majors and minors.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)