Hope Vaughn O. Vennerberg II, a 1976 psychology alumnus and president of XTO Energy Inc. of Fort Worth, and his company teamed up for a $1 million donation that provides $4 million in impact when matched by Boone Pickens’ $100 million chair commitment and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. The gift establishes the Vaughn “Trey” O. Vennerberg III Chair in Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics, the Vennerberg Professorship in Art and the Vennerberg Professorship in Developmental Disabilities in Psychology. Each is the first endowed position in its department. Vennerberg’s long-term goal is for the three positions to help recruit talented faculty and students and to bring national academic recognition to OSU through outstanding research. A psychology graduate and proponent of genetic research, he chose to make the gifts in areas that played a part in shaping who he is today. “Genetic research is an issue that is very close to my heart and something that’s affected my family personally,” Vennerberg says. “Maybe this gift will eventually help improve the quality of life for individuals with genetic disorders as well as giving their families hope.” Jacob Longan ’05 cas.okstate.edu Photo OSU Foundation Photo Provided Oklahoma State university 13 development
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