Undergraduate students engaged in energy research in the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University will now have access to funds to support that research, thanks to a $25,000 endowment from Dianne Anderson.
The Dianne Dubetz Anderson Scholarship is named in honor of Anderson, who serves as executive director of the Great Lakes Energy Institute at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She has more than 25 years of experience in top-management positions in the energy industry, setting strategies in oil, natural gas, and electricity-generation, and managing regulatory affairs with the U.S. and Canadian governments. Anderson held executive positions at British Petroleum (BP) from 1983-2008 and North American Gas & Power, BP’s marketer of natural gas products in North America.
“The gift made by Ben and Jo Statler in 2012 has allowed the College to focus on expanding its already strong energy platform,” said Anderson. “Dean Cilento was able to articulate ways in which an endowment of this nature could best serve future students. I’m very grateful for the educational experiences I received at WVU and I’m hopeful that funds from this endowment will provide extraordinary opportunities to future students.
“West Virginia University and the Statler College are investing in growing its programs in energy education and research,” said Gene Cilento, Glen H. Hiner Dean of the Statler College. “From well-established programs in petroleum and natural gas engineering and mining engineering, to research being conducted in alternative forms of energy, the College offers a myriad of experiences to our students. Gifts such as this will provide valuable funds to advance our efforts by helping to support students who are conducting energy-related research.”
Anderson earned her bachelor’s degree from WVU in civil engineering in 1983 and went on to complete senior-executive development programs at Harvard, Cambridge University, and Northwestern University. She currently serves as a member of the Statler College’s Visiting Committee.
The contribution was made in conjunction with A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University. The $750 million comprehensive campaign being conducted by the WVU Foundation on behalf of the University runs through December 2015.
