Contact: Phil Hearn
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Longtime Mississippi State supporter and 1961 civil engineering alumnus James T. White and wife Barbara are committing $1.75 million to the university to establish an endowed chair in the Bagley College of Engineering.
The James T. White Chair in Civil Engineering will be an endowed position held by the head of the department to encourage continued excellence in leadership, teaching and service. The Whites reside in Dallas, Texas.
Earnings from the endowment will provide a salary supplement for the civil engineering department head as well as support for faculty development, student conferences and other departmental expenses.
"Gifts such as this one are critical to recruiting and retaining world-class leadership for our academic programs," said engineering Dean Kirk H. Schulz, citing the importance of leadership excellence in attracting external research support, outstanding undergraduate and graduate students, and other top faculty.
"In order to achieve our goal of becoming a Top 50 engineering program, we must continue to aggressively grow the number of endowed positions we have for our faculty," Schulz added.
The Bagley College of Engineering considers endowed positions to be one of its top priorities in the university's capital campaign, titled "State of the Future: The Mississippi State Campaign." The capital effort, which continues through 2008, has raised more than $227 million toward a university-wide goal of $400 million.
White is president of H.C. Price Co., a Dallas-based oil and gas pipeline contractor with a rich history in the development of modern pipeline construction techniques used worldwide.
He predicted the demand for civil engineers will grow in the coming years because of a need to maintain and expand the extensive infrastructure system within the United States. He also expressed hope the MSU endowed position will enable the department to retain faculty with the expertise necessary to move the program forward.
"Now, more than ever, solid leadership in the field of civil engineering is necessary," White said.
White has served on the civil engineering department's advisory board, and he currently is an active member of the Dean's Development Council for the Bagley College. He and Barbara have been avid supporters of the civil engineering department, Bagley College and the university.
The couple also has provided financial support for the renovation of McCain Hall, which houses administrative offices of the engineering college. The James T. White Dean's Suite in McCain is named in White's honor.
For more information, contact Julie Lemons at (662) 325-8098 or jlemons@engr.msstate.edu.