The Fernholz Foundation has endowed the mathematics department with funds to bring leading researchers to collaborate at Princeton. This mission is fulfilled with two robust and exciting programs: the Minerva Lecture Series and the Minerva Distinguished Visitor.

The Minerva Lecture Series began in 2012 and has been an outstanding success. Each series consists of three lectures over the course of a week and numerous occasions for the speaker to work with faculty and students.

In light of the great response the Minerva Speakers received in the department, the Minerva Distinguished Visitor program was inaugurated in 2014. The Distinguished Visitor is a semester-long appointment to the department allowing top mathematicians to pursue and share ongoing projects with colleagues at Princeton.