The professorship in public policy will be named in honor of former College President Josiah “Si” Bunting III and his wife, Diana. Mr. Corey’s gift is inspired by the work of Washington-based non-political organization Free the Facts, whose mission is to help students form their own opinions, create solutions, and meaningfully participate in the national debate over our country’s biggest challenges.
“This gift is the result of my long overdue desire to honor President Bunting and Diana,” says Mr. Corey. “They arrived at Hampden-Sydney my sophomore year in 1977, stayed for over a decade, and immersed themselves in all facets of campus life. They were and are models of leadership, virtue, and service to Hampden-Sydney.”
After graduating third in his class from Virginia Military Institute, President Bunting received a Rhodes scholarship to study at the University of Oxford, where he earned a master of arts. He then went on to serve in the United States Army, achieving the rank of major. As president of Hampden-Sydney from 1977 to 1987, President Bunting made innumerable contributions to the community, demonstrating extraordinary stewardship and leadership, spearheading a capital campaign that nearly tripled the College’s endowment. President Bunting also oversaw the formalization of the Rhetoric Program and the interdisciplinary enhancement of the Western Civilization program.
President Bunting served as faculty or senior leadership at the Naval War College, West Point, Virginia Military Institute, Briarcliff College, and The Lawrenceville School. He is the author of three nonfiction books—the latest published in March of 2024 titled The Making of a Leader: The Formative Years of George C. Marshall—and four novels. He remains a well-known speaker and author on education and Western culture.
Thanks to Mr. Corey’s generous and thoughtful investment in the College’s academic program, Hampden-Sydney will be able to better prepare the citizen leaders of tomorrow, a truly fitting way to honor the contributions of one of the College’s most esteemed former leaders.