University Park, Pa. -- A $2 million gift from Penn State alumnus Douglas Sherwin and his wife, Joyce Sherwin, will endow three faculty positions in the College of the Liberal Arts. The Sherwins, who made the commitment as part of their estate plans, said they wanted future Penn State students to benefit from strong faculty as Doug Sherwin had benefited from the guidance of two legendary University faculty, Edward Nichols and Frank Whitmore.
A 1940 Penn State graduate in chemical engineering, Doug took only one class in the liberal arts-a writing class taught by Professor Edward Nichols-but he said the experience left a lasting impression.
After completing graduate work at Oxford University, Sherwin eventually become an executive with the Phillips Petroleum Co. (now ConocoPhillips), including president of subsidiary Phillips Products Co. When the Sherwins returned to campus in later years, they would often stop in to see Nichols. While Doug appreciated the writing training he received from Nichols, he found it truly remarkable when the professor cast him as a character in one of his novels.
Later, when Sherwin wrote numerous articles for the Harvard Business Review, he drew on the writing skills Nichols instilled in him during his Penn State years.
In addition, Frank Whitmore, dean of the former School of Chemistry and Physics, challenged Doug to attend Oxford and wrote numerous unsolicited letters of recommendation on his behalf.
The Sherwins wanted future Penn State students to benefit from strong faculty as Doug had benefited from the guidance of Nichols and Whitmore.
"I worked my way through Penn State while lettering in baseball, and my time there gave me the foundations to go on to pursue my goals," Doug Sherwin said. "I am so happy that Joyce and I are able to give back to the place that gave me so much."
The Sherwins chose to contribute to the College of the Liberal Arts because they felt it would have the greatest impact on the largest number of students. Overall, the college provides nearly one-third of the classes for University Park undergraduates.
Influenced by Doug's interest in business ethics, the Sherwins' gift will create two Sherwin Early Career Professorships in the Rock Ethics Institute for promising faculty in the early stages of their careers. They also will endow the Douglas S. and Joyce L. Sherwin Professorship in the College of the Liberal Arts Honoring Frank Whitmore.
"Doug and Joyce clearly understand the tremendous impact that quality faculty can have on the student experience here in the College of the Liberal Arts and the entire University," said Dean Susan Welch. "I am so grateful that through this generous gift, we will be able to ensure that we have the resources necessary to bring the finest faculty to the college and University."