Myra and Victor Dean have long supported academics and athletics at WVU.
A dedicated West Virginia University alum and his wife are expanding support for engineering education and athletics with gifts totaling $175,000.
For nearly a quarter of a century, Victor and Myra Dean have been frequent donors to the University. Their most recent $75,000 gift to the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources creates a namesake scholarship endowment offering a boost for future engineering students. Dean’s employer, J.M. Huber Corporation, added a $50,000 match for donations to the Statler College totaling $125,000.
“It’s been our experience that education is one of the keys to accessing opportunity,” Victor Dean, a 1986 chemical engineering graduate, said. “Through this scholarship, we can give back to the University while making an impact in a student’s life. It is our hope that by helping students meet the financial requirements associated with getting an education, we, in partnership with WVU, can help students follow their passions and create a better future for themselves.”
The scholarship is designated for students majoring in or intending to major in chemical or biomedical engineering at the Statler College. First preference will be given to West Virginia residents, with second preference for residents of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must also maintain a 2.75 grade point average.
“Challenging fields such as chemical and biomedical engineering require intense focus and determination,” said Pedro Mago, Glen H. Hiner Dean of the Statler College. “This scholarship offers resources and opportunities for students to excel in these competitive areas.”
A $125,000 gift will provide scholarship opportunities for chemical engineering students at WVU.
Dean and his wife Myra, an adopted Mountaineer, know firsthand where a chemical engineering degree can take you.
“Chemical engineering is one of the unique degrees that allows you to explore a variety of careers,” Dean said. “Friends I’ve graduated with have had successful careers in research, operations and product development. They’ve been CEOs and senior leaders at a variety companies as well as entrepreneurs, lawyers and professors. I can’t think of another degree that provides such a broad-based foundation for success.”
The Deans, who live in Atlanta, have an interest in the future of WVU that doesn’t stop at academics and engineering. Over time, they have spread their support to benefit the Statler College, athletics, student emergency funds, facility upgrades and the WVU Alumni Association.
The couple’s latest gift to support WVU sports via the Mountaineer Athletic Club includes $50,000 to aid the football and men’s basketball programs.
“We give to our passions,” Dean said. “Education is a passion. Sports are a passion. Choosing where to give was easy. Some decisions are hard. This wasn’t one of them.”
A New Martinsville native, Dean and much of his family — including parents, siblings and cousins — are WVU graduates. He wants his alma mater to continue to be successful in a competitive market vying for top students.
“How do we set ourselves apart versus other institutions?” Dean asked himself. “That question is one of the big reasons why we are choosing to give back. It takes active, engaged and philanthropic alumni to keep the University moving forward.”
Students who graduate in chemical and biomedical engineering are in high demand at major companies in the United States and abroad. Universities are competing for the best and brightest students, and employers are competing for those graduates.
“The Deans’ support not only eases the financial burden of our students but also inspires them to pursue innovation to be a top contender on a global stage,” Mago said. “We are incredibly grateful to the Deans; their generosity will help shape the next generation of chemical and biomedical engineers and contribute to creating a better future for all."
The Dean gifts have been made through WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University. Through the WVU Foundation, a donor’s employer can sponsor a matching gift program to match, double or – in some instances – more than double the gift made by the donor.