West Virginia University’s C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry will begin a project to renovate lab spaces thanks to a generous $200,000 gift from Edna Bennett Pierce, of Wilmington, Del.

As the Department of Chemistry continues to grow and improve, these lab spaces demand heavy upgrades to accommodate new faculty and meet standards for research. With renovations coming at a high cost, private support was critical to supplement state funding for this project. As an unwavering supporter of the department, Pierce recognized this need and pledged to help.

Pierce’s commitment to the Department of Chemistry spans many years, starting with her late husband C. Eugene Bennett, after whom the department is named. Together, the couple provided significant support for program improvements, faculty recruitment, academic enrichment and more, a tradition of giving that Pierce herself has maintained long after the passing of her late husband.

“The importance of a gift like this goes far beyond the dollar value of the renovations alone. Having the appropriate facilities is a foundational aspect of recruiting strong faculty members,” said Dr. Robert Jones, Dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. “Along with good faculty comes a positive student experience, an improvement in the college’s academic reputation, and a stronger vision for the future of the program. This type of private support is both much needed and greatly appreciated.”

This 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.

For further information on the comprehensive campaign, please visit http://www.astateofminds.com or http://www.eberly.wvu.edu

For more information, contact Amanda Dymacek, at 304-293-9251 or Amanda.Dymacek@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

bs/2/11/14

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