New Maqubela Chair in Organic Chemistry endowed with $2 million commitment

Groton School has received a $2 million commitment from John Childs ’59, trustee emeritus, to establish the Temba T. Maqubela Chair in Organic Chemistry, named in honor of Groton’s eighth, and current, headmaster, who also teaches the course. 

“For many years, I have been very impressed with the job Temba has done in that most challenging position, headmaster of Groton School, and so I felt his work deserves special recognition,” said Mr. Childs. “Through my business involvement in life sciences, I have come to appreciate the foundational role of organic chemistry in this field that is transforming drug discovery. The resulting impact on life expectancy and quality is vast, so making the course a permanent part of the Groton experience coalesced around Temba’s accomplishments and leadership.”

Teaching chairs serve as an enduring tribute to those for whom they are named as well as an honor for the educator who holds the chair. This newest chair has a special connection to one that was also fully funded—the Paul W. Wright Chair in Mathematics, established by two members of the Form of 1941. Both the Wright Chair and the Maqubela Chair celebrate Groton headmasters who also taught during their tenure as the school’s leader, and both chairs are in STEM disciplines—science and mathematics.  

“This most generous gift from John Childs recognizes and validates that education begins with teaching,” said Mr. Maqubela. “To be connected with another STEM headmaster—our fourth headmaster, Paul Wright, who taught math here for forty-six years—through an endowed chair is a rare and singular honor. I look forward to naming an outstanding member of Groton’s STEM faculty as the first holder of this chair.” 

The Maqubela Chair in Organic Chemistry also celebrates the ongoing importance of science in the Groton curriculum and the particular importance of chemistry in the study of the sciences. Through the Groton Accelerate, Challenge, and Enrich (GRACE) summer program, founded in 2016, Groton students continue to accelerate in chemistry while at Groton. One of the many academic opportunities GRACE provides rising Fourth Formers is the chance to study honors-level chemistry over the four-week summer program. As a result, Groton has a very high percentage of Fourth Formers who take AP Chemistry in one year instead of two, which enables those students to pursue the Organic Chemistry course while on the Circle. The establishment of this chair by Mr. Childs helps to ensure the opportunity for acceleration in organic chemistry continues in perpetuity at Groton.  

“The donor’s decision to endow a faculty chair in Temba’s name highlights both the recognition of Temba's leadership and the alignment of their shared passion for science,” said Director of Development and Alumni Affairs John MacEachern P’10, ’14, ’16. “This gesture not only honors Temba's contributions but also underscores the importance of fostering academic excellence in a field—organic chemistry—that plays a crucial role in innovation and research.”