Phylicia Rashad to Serve as Denzel Washington Chair at Fordham University

Denzel Washington is thanking is alma mater in a big way.

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The actor recently donated $2 million to Fordham University, where he earned a degree in Drama and Journalism, to create the Denzel Washington Chair in Theatre. Additionally, Washington contributed $250,000 to establish a Denzel Washington Endowed Scholarship for an undergraduate theatre student.

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Actress Phylicia Rashad will join the department faculty as the first Denzel Washington Chair in Theatre. Rashad is best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show.

“Show me a successful individual, and I’ll show you someone who has had positive influences in his or her life,” said Washington in a statement. “I wanted to create the Denzel Washington Endowed Scholarship and Chair in Theatre at Fordham in order to offer the next generation of students positive influences. Phylicia Rashad, as the inaugural holder of the chair, will provide the care, compassion and that extra push to help take students where they’re meant to go.”

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Washington graduated from the University in 1977 and cites the late Bob Stones as one of his most influential mentors.

Rashad appeared in Tyler Perry’s 2010 drama, For Colored Girls, and is currently filming Gods Behaving Badly opposite Christopher Walken, John Turturro, Sharon Stone, Edie Falco, Nelsan Ellis and Oliver Platt. The dramedy centers around Greek gods living in New York and is directed by Marc Turtletaub.