|
Oklahoma State University has received a $1 million gift from Chesapeake Energy Corporation to
establish a faculty super chair dedicated to petroleum geosciences. When fully matched by the
state as well as T. Boone Pickens’ $100 million chair match commitment, the Chesapeake
Super Chair will provide $4 million in endowed funds.
From left, are
Burns Hargis, OSU president, Mark Lester, Chesapeake Energy Executive VP of Exploration,
and Martha Burger, Chesapeake Energy Senior VP of Human and Corporate Resources. |
Chesapeake, OSU Unite to Strengthen Petroleum Geoscience Research & Workforce
$1 million gift will endow faculty chair in School of Geology
Oklahoma State University announced a $1 million gift from Chesapeake Energy Corporation today to establish a faculty super chair dedicated to petroleum geosciences, further enhancing teaching and research efforts that will serve as a catalyst for program growth.
Once fully matched dollar-for-dollar by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education as well as T. Boone Pickens’ $100 million chair match commitment, the Chesapeake Super Chair will provide $4 million in endowed funds.
“We deeply appreciate Chesapeake’s support of our academic endeavors at OSU through this generous gift. We admire the visionary leadership at Chesapeake starting with the company’s Chairman and co-founder Aubrey McClendon,” OSU President Burns Hargis said. “As a company focused on the exploration and production of clean-burning natural gas, Chesapeake will be part of the answer to our country’s need for more energy with less pollution.
“OSU is pleased to partner with leading companies like Chesapeake to fund path-breaking research in geosciences, including economics, engineering, environmental, geochemistry, geophysics and geology. And we are committed to support Oklahoma’s all-important energy industry by creating a dynamic teaching and research environment that prepares future geoscientists to help companies develop our nation’s natural resources and safeguard our environment.”
The chair will allow OSU to attract an internationally known scholar in the field of geosciences for research and teaching, which will enhance learning for top students. Additionally, the Chesapeake gift will play a central role in shaping the future of the School of Geology and strengthening the pipeline of highly qualified geologists in Oklahoma.
“We have great respect for new OSU President Burns Hargis and we are pleased to support his efforts at OSU through this gift. This gift is really an investment to make sure Chesapeake has a continuous pool of bright students who are capable and ready to apply their knowledge in the earth and environmental sciences to help us explore and produce earth-friendly and domestically produced natural gas to meet America’s energy needs for many decades to come,” McClendon said.
The gift was prompted by Pickens’ historic $100 million academic donation on May 21. Pickens’ gift will more than double the number of current faculty chair and professorship positions at the university and he generously agreed that his donation can be used to match other donor gifts to faculty chairs and professorships in the area of the donor’s choice, and in the name of their choice. With the state match on both gifts, OSU donors can see their gift to fund a faculty chair quadruple.
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 professorship 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.
The gift adds to Chesapeake’s already generous support of Oklahoma State University in recent years. Since 2003, the company has created multiple student scholarship programs within the Boone Pickens School of Geology and the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology (CEAT) to benefit engineering and geology students as well as rural scholars. Chesapeake’s scholarship donations account for more than $1 million in support on the Stillwater campus.
Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, Oklahoma State University is a five-campus, public land-grant educational system that 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 system and nearly 21,000 on its Stillwater campus; with students from all 50 states and around 110 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 200,000 students who have made a lasting impact on Oklahoma and the world.
Top of page ^
|
