Contact: Maridith Geuder
Mississippi State today [Feb. 19] announced a $1.25 million gift to the College of Engineering from Kingsport, Tenn.-based Eastman Chemical Co.
Honoring Earnest W. Deavenport Jr., the gift funds the Deavenport Endowed Chair in the university's Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering.
A Macon native and 1960 MSU chemical engineering graduate, Deavenport is Eastman's chairman and chief executive officer.
"Eastman as a whole shares Earnie Deavenport's philosophy that quality education is the cornerstone of a stable society and the foundation for a stronger workforce," said Betty DeVinney, the company's vice president for communications and public affairs. "We recognize the need for more emphasis in math and science education and realize that, unless companies like ours show support for education, America's economic well-being will be in jeopardy."
The Swalm School is a major unit of MSU's College of Engineering. The holder of the chair or endowed professorship also will serve as school director.
"This gift will help us continue to build a program that is making nationally significant contributions, as well as ensure outstanding leadership to support state, regional and national economic development," said college Dean A. Wayne Bennett.
"Also, in honoring Earnie Deavenport, we have established a wonderful role model for our students and our faculty," Bennett added.
Mississippi State ranks 37th nationally in engineering research and development expenditures, according to the National Science Foundation. It is home to a NSF Engineering Research Center, one of the first established more than a decade ago.
Deavenport, who began his Eastman career shortly after graduating from MSU, held a variety of management positions before being named president of Carolina Eastman in 1982.
He subsequently became assistant general manager of the Eastman Chemicals Division and vice president of Eastman Kodak Co. before guiding the spinoff of the chemicals division in 1994 to create the publicly traded Eastman Chemical Co. At the spinoff, Deavenport was named Eastman chairman and CEO.
Long a supporter of engineering education at his alma mater and elsewhere, Deavenport has earned numerous awards for his contributions to the profession. Among them was the 1999 Palladium Award presented by the Societe de Chimie Industrielle's American Section for his contributions to the global chemistry industry. Others included the Kavaler Award, the chemical industry's highest recognition for executive achievement, and the Commercial Development Association's Honor Award for his leadership in bringing new products to the market.
Deavenport, a National Academy of Engineering member, was overall chairman for the 1999 National Engineers Week celebration held throughout the United States. At Mississippi State, he is a member of the College of Engineering's Advisory Council and was the university's 2000 spring commencement speaker.
"There are few individuals who have made such significant career contributions," Bennett said. "The college, the university and the profession will benefit long into the future from the possibilities opened by the Deavenport Endowed Chair."
For more on the Deavenport Chair, telephone Bennett at (662) 325-2270.