SMU President R. Gerald Turner and Roy M. Huffington celebrate the naming of the Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences Thursday in the Rotunda. (John Schreiber)
SMU commemorated the naming of the Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences on Thursday in the Rotunda of Dallas Hall. Huffington gave more than $10 million to the department, establishing the Huffington Bicentennial Endowment Fund for the Huffington Department of Earth Sciences that will provide for future research, scholarships and teaching in the department.
“SMU’s research and teaching in the earth sciences is already internationally recognized, producing successful scientists who help us understand the history of our planet as well as the prospects for developing future energy resources,” SMU President R. Gerald Turner said. “Roy Huffington’s generosity will enable the Huffington Department of Earth Sciences to make an even greater impact on the challenges faced on a global level.”
The earth sciences department currently offers undergraduate majors in geology, geophysics, environmental geology, environmental science and environmental studies. Graduate degrees include geophysics, applied geophysics and geology. Ph.D. degrees include geology and geophysics.
The department has existed since the opening of SMU in 1915. Research in the department is funded by several organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Huffington graduated from SMU in 1938, earning a bachelor’s degree in geology. He later earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. from Harvard University. He is the chair and CEO of Roy M. Huffington, Inc., a Houston-based petroleum operations firm.
His late wife, Phyllis Gough Huffington, graduated from SMU in 1943.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He worked for the Humble Oil and Refining Company, which is now the ExxonMobil Corp. for 10 years. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Austria from 1990 to 1993.
In 1990, SMU granted Huffington an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. He served on the SMU Board of Trustees from 1980 to 1987. Huffington and his wife received the Mustang Award in 1996 for their service and philanthrophy to SMU.
Huffington has given more than $31 million to SMU, including a 2006 gift of $10 million for student scholarships and faculty support.
Huffington’s gift will aid in SMU’s Centennial Strategic Plan. The plan aims to increase student quality, faculty excellence, academic distinction and the campus experience at SMU as the university celebrates the centennial anniversaries of its founding in 1911 and its opening in 1915.
