Alum, wife give $3 million to UA

Donation will create chemical engineering chairmanship

University of Arkansas at Fayetteville alumnus Kevin Brown and his wife, Marie, both of Houston, have given $3 million to UA to create an endowed chairmanship in the College of Engineering, UA announced Monday in a news release.

The Kevin W. and Marie L. Brown Department Head Chair in Chemical Engineering will be part of the Ralph E. Martin department of chemical engineering. The department is searching for a new department head, the news release said.

“Kevin and Marie are making a difference by providing the resources we need to attract and retain a proven leader for the Ralph E. Martin department of chemical engineering,” said current department head Buddy Babcock.

“Supporting the university by establishing endowed chairs helps us attract and retain the most innovative faculty for our students,” UA Chancellor G. David Gearhart said. “This is a critical need, since endowed positions help us remain competitive with our peers.”

A North Little Rock native, Kevin Brown received an academic scholarship to attend UA, earning a degree in chemical engineering. Today, he serves as vice president of refining for LyondellBasell Industries in Houston.

He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2011 and serves on the university’s Campaign Arkansas Steering Committee and the College of Engineering’s Dean’s Advisory Council, Campaign Arkansas Steering Committee and the Arkansas Academy of Chemical Engineers.

The Browns have also established the Megan Leigh Brown Fellowship for Ovarian Cancer at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Arkansas, Pages 10 on 12/03/2013

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