CEO Gives $35M To Support Texas A&M Science Initiatives
HOUSTON
George P. Mitchell, chairman and chief executive officer of Mitchell Energy & Development, is spearheading the development of a new science initiative at Texas A&M University. He recently contributed $35 million to support an effort to propel the institution into the front ranks of fundamental physics and astronomy.
The donation by the oil, gas and land-development entrepreneur and his wife, Cynthia, represents the latest in a series of gifts supporting the university’s scientific development. With previous gifts supporting additions such as academic chairs, professorships and the Giant Magellan Telescope project, the Mitchells’ gifts now total $44.5 million for the sciences alone.
“I’m interested in helping Texas A&M become one of the world’s leading institutions in scientific research, in areas ranging from the far reaches of deep space to the very near halls of higher learning,” says Mitchell, an alumnus of the university.
Mitchell has also commissioned noted architect Michael Graves to design two buildings that will form the cornerstone of the university’s expanded physics and astronomy programs. The buildings will be the George P. & Cynthia W. Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy and the George P. Mitchell ’40 Physics Building. Expected to be joined together, they will be located on the north side of the campus adjacent to the new Brown Engineering Building.
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