Williams Foundation Commits $350,000 Toward OSU Civil Engineering Professorship
Tulsa based foundation gift aimed at strengthening industry workforce,
improving engineering research initiatives
Oklahoma State University announced today a more than $350,000 gift from Williams Foundation to create a civil engineering professorship at OSU. Once fully matched dollar-for-dollar by T. Boone Pickens’ $100 million chair match commitment, as well as the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the gift will have the impact of more than $1.4 million in endowed funds.
The gift will create the Williams Foundation Professorship in Civil Engineering, which will be housed within the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology (CEAT). Earnings from the endowed position will provide support for salary augmentation, participation in conferences, curriculum development and research expenditures.
“The response from our alumni and friends has exceeded our wildest expectations,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “Inspired by Boone Pickens’ astounding generosity, donors answered the call to make a lasting difference and open a new and exciting chapter at OSU. We sincerely appreciate what the Williams Foundation has done for the benefit of OSU academics and research.”
In order to take full advantage of the state’s dollar-for-dollar match, and make the most significant impact on OSU academics, the Williams Foundation made the gift prior to the July 1 change in the state’s endowed chair matching program. This gift is part of the $66.8 million in endowed faculty gifts OSU announced recently.
“Williams has many exciting growth opportunities before us and we need to continually add bright employees to help take advantage of these opportunities,” said Phil Wright, President of Williams Gas Pipeline. “In order to recruit and hire the best and brightest talent you must begin with the best education possible.” “OSU is a vital partner for us. The school historically provides a large number of our recruits each year.”
Jean Van Delinder, chair of the OSU Faculty Council, said, “OSU is poised for growth and further prominence but to realize its full potential we must continue to attract and retain top scholars and researchers. These chairs highlight the important role that scholarship and teaching play at Oklahoma State University, and they are made possible through the generous support of donors who value excellence in scholarship and want to help OSU continue to nurture a strong faculty.”
Endowed professorships and chairs are academic designations which provide support for faculty salary, graduate assistantships, equipment and research needs, as well as other support. These endowed faculty positions allow a university to attract and retain the best and the brightest academic minds in the world.
Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant system that cuts across disciplines to better prepare students for a new world. Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, OSU improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach. OSU has more than 32,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 19,000 on its Stillwater campus; with students from all 50 states and about 110 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 200,000 students who have made a lasting impact on Oklahoma and the world. CREATE - INNOVATE - EDUCATE - GO STATE!
The Oklahoma State University Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.
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