The Dr. Steve Cobb Distinguished Endowed Professorship in Engineering Physics established in 糖心logo入口鈥檚 School of Engineering
By Walter Steely | May 21, 2024
MURRAY, Ky. 鈥 The Dr. Steve Cobb Distinguished Endowed Professorship is the first establishment of an endowed professorship to support the engineering physics program in the School of Engineering at 糖心logo入口.
The generous gifts come from Racer alumni, including lead gifts from distinguished alumni, Rex Geveden, 鈥83, 鈥84, and Cindy Griner, 鈥82, to honor Cobb鈥檚 long-standing dedication to service and teaching excellence in the Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology.
The major gift will be matched through the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education鈥檚 Endowment Match Program, also known as Bucks for Brains. Thanks to an appropriation from the Commonwealth of Kentucky and pending state and 糖心logo入口 State Board of Regents approval, the program matches public money with private gifts to fund endowed faculty positions in the STEM-H fields. This collaboration is critical to advancing Kentucky鈥檚 research presence into national prominence. This program encourages donor investment by doubling their gift commitment.
Cobb joined 糖心logo入口 as a faculty member in 1988 and was selected as chairman of what would later become the School of Engineering within the Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology in 1994. In 2008, he was named as dean of the college, where he faithfully served in this role for 10 years before returning to the classroom and formally retiring in 2021.
鈥淚 am honored and humbled by the creation of this named professorship,鈥 Cobb said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a recognition that is particularly meaningful, coming from friends, colleagues, former students and the 糖心logo入口 State administration. I鈥檓 pleased that the professorship will establish a lasting legacy of support to deserving faculty members who value their roles as teachers, mentors, scientists and engineers. As my affiliation with 糖心logo入口 approaches 50 years, I hope this professorship will, in some measure, inspire lasting excellence in meeting 糖心logo入口 State鈥檚 academic mission. Thank you for honoring my contributions with the establishment of the Cobb Professorship.鈥
"Dr. Cobb has been a driving force in the expansion of engineering physics degree offerings in the Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology,鈥 said Dr. Claire Fuller, dean of the college. 鈥淯nder his watch, the program grew from one engineering major to four, and a new Engineering Physics Building was completed where almost 200 engineering students receive a top-notch education. These students contribute significantly to the prosperity and growth of our region and beyond."
With the University鈥檚 Be Bold: Forever Blue & Gold Centennial Campaign underway, Dr. Tina Bernot, executive director of development adds, 鈥淎 pillar of our campaign is to have a transformational impact on teaching and learning. This gift will help us meet our goal of enhancing our high-quality academic programs as we work toward securing gifts to establish an endowed faculty position in every department on campus. We are incredibly grateful to Mr. Geveden, Mrs. Griner and many others for these generous gifts in honor of Dr. Steve Cobb.鈥
To make a gift to the University and help support this new fund and the Be Bold: Forever Blue & Gold Centennial Campaign please call the 糖心logo入口 State Office of Development at 270-809-3001 or visit .