TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The second floor of Indiana State University’s Science Building will be named after the late Dr. William “Bill” Brett, who served the institution for 57 years as a faculty member in Science and as an emeritus professor.
The Board of
Trustees approved the measure Friday, consistent with university policy, in
acknowledgement of a significant gift from Dr. Brett’s wife, Mrs. Judith L.
Brett.
“Bill was proud of
ISU and talked it up wherever we went,” Judith Brett said. “Loving students and
science, he would approve of my choice to endow the SURE program to support
undergraduate research. As his wife, I am gratified that his name will continue
to be spoken.”
The gift is in
support of Dr. Brett’s passions, research and teaching at the undergraduate
level. The endowment will support the Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences
(SURE) program, which will be housed in the Dr. William “Bill” Brett Center for
Science Research.
“We are proud to honor the legacy of Dr. Brett with the naming of the Dr. William “Bill” Brett Center for Science Research,” Andrea Angel, Vice President for University Advancement and CEO of the ISU Foundation said. “His dedication to his students and the advancement of the sciences helped lay groundwork for the fantastic undergraduate research experiences Indiana State offers today. We are grateful Judy has established this endowment to specifically provide undergraduate research experiences for future generations of Sycamores.”
Dr. Brett served
as chairperson of the Life Sciences Department for 15 years. He was a recipient
of the Caleb Mills Teaching Award and the first recipient of ISU’s President’s
Medal.
He earned his
bachelor’s degree at Northern Illinois University, his master’s degree at Miami
University and his Ph.D. from Northwestern University. During World War II, he
served as a pilot in the 101st Airborne of the U.S. Army Air Force, earning the
EAME Theatre ribbon with Silver and Bronze Star Medals.
The SURE program
is a 10-week summer program open to all ISU undergraduates (and some high
school students). About 40 students engage in research under the direction of a
faculty mentor. The SURE program runs May through August. Scholarships are
generally offered to students who will have completed at least one year of
coursework in biology, chemistry, geology, or physics by May of the current
academic year.
Dr. Christopher
Olsen, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said students work with
professors in their labs or in the field doing original, hands-on research.
“It is the very
model of experiential learning and the sort of opportunity that happens at ISU,
when at most schools only graduate students get these chances,” Olsen said. “It
also embodies what Bill Brett advocated nearly seven decades ago: undergraduates
doing original research with their faculty members. We are so grateful to Judy
Brett for making this possible.”
All SURE
researchers, including students and faculty, meet every Friday throughout the
program for a seminar series, at which students will periodically give
presentations on their research focus and progress.
The students will
also present their work at the SURE Research Symposium held at the conclusion
of the program. SURE students are encouraged to continue their research during
the following academic year and to present the results of their effort at
regional or national research symposia.
