OSU receives $250,000 gift from Tulsa businessman to focus on aging research
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Close professorship to further gerontology education, research
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The president of CloseBend Inc, an industry leader in welding fitting manufacturing,
Close received his hotel and restaurant administration degree from OSU in 1966. His
gift will provide funding to conduct applied, interdisciplinary research to address
the relationship and well-being of an aging society.
“This is a critical area of study for the future of our country and we are delighted
Bryan Close has taken advantage of this special opportunity to make such an important
gift,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “We appreciate all Bryan does for OSU.”
In order to take full advantage of the state’s dollar-for-dollar match, and make the
most significant impact on OSU academics, Close made the gift prior to the July 1
change in the state’s endowed chair matching program. This gift is part of the $66.8
million in endowed faculty gifts OSU announced recently.
The gift will create the Bryan Close Professorship in Adulthood and Aging located
within the College of Human Environmental Sciences. The professorship holder will
lead in the development, dissemination and evaluation of research, as well as outreach
efforts, that would be relevant for Oklahoma and the nation. The position will also
provide significant opportunities in partnering with international scholars engaged
in aging related work.
Close believes that gerontology, the study of aging, is a topic that is on the threshold
of needing greater research at a time when Baby Boomers are retiring and people are
living longer. His interest centers on developing methods to help educate the populace
about gerontology while helping aging individuals cope better.
“All of us will need some assistance in this way someday, and the more we know about
aging gracefully and comfortably will help to minimize our suffering in the future,”
said Close. “Making this gift was something I wanted to do for a while, and when
Mr. Pickens made the challenge I knew the opportunity was too good to pass up.”
Jean Van Delinder, chair of the OSU Faculty Council, said, “OSU is poised for growth
and further prominence but to realize its full potential we must continue to attract
and retain top scholars and researchers. These chairs highlight the important role
that scholarship and teaching play at Oklahoma State University, and they are made
possible through the generous support of donors who value excellence in scholarship
and want to help OSU continue to nurture a strong faculty.”
Endowed professorships and chairs are academic designations which provide support
for faculty salary, graduate assistantships, equipment and research needs, as well
as other support. These endowed faculty positions allow a university to attract and
retain the best and the brightest academic minds in the world.