Board Joins Scholarship With Industry and Funding

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In 2006, the department of geosciences in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences formed an external advisory board. The 22-member board gives advice on curriculum and focuses on funding and finding the best opportunities for students to have a smooth transition from the classroom into industry.

“The department benefits greatly from the board’s involvement,” said Ralph Davis, chair of the department of geosciences. “Whether students and faculty are working in petroleum geology, geospatial mapping or hydrology, industry input is helpful in guiding our programming.”

To date, advisory board members have given more than $1.7 million to the department, including a $1 million gift from Maurice Storm toward establishing the Maurice F. Storm Endowed Chair in Petroleum Geology and a $250,000 gift from geology alumnus John Glynn Williams in support of an endowment that funds graduate assistants who plan to pursue careers in petroleum geology.

The advisory board and department are advancing the plan for a doctoral program in geosciences, which was approved by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees at its Feb. 2 meeting. When the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board gives final approval, the department will begin recruiting new doctoral students.

“The Ph.D. program is a top priority for the university,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “The geosciences external advisory board was instrumental in guiding the plan. “Together, we will ensure that the Ph.D. program, as it evolves, meets nationally competitive academic and research standards.”

Research income, private and corporate investments and the university will collectively fund the doctoral program for the long term.

“Because of all of the natural resources exploration in the state, Arkansas deserves a more robust geosciences research program,” said John Williams, founding member and inaugural chair of the advisory board. “The advisory board members knew that we could improve the department’s interface with industry and geoscience alumni.”

On behalf of faculty and students, members of the advisory board actively seek joint research projects, internships and permanent jobs with the petroleum industry. Williams added, “I hope advisory boards are initiated in other departments based on the success our advisory board has experienced to date.”

Recruiting visits, interview workshops, site visits and other industry contact resulted in four summer internships and five full-time job placements for geoscience students last year. Many of these activities were initiated by the advisory board and department alumni.