AU’S COLLEGE OF SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS RECEIVES $1.2 MILLION GIFT

AUBURN - Don and Sandy Logan have committed more than $1.2 million to Auburn’s College of Sciences and Mathematics as part of the ongoing “It Begins at Auburn” Campaign.

The Logans’ gift, the largest ever given to the department, will create the first endowed chair in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. In addition, the gift will support graduate fellowships in the department.

Endowed chairs are vital to attracting and retaining internationally acclaimed faculty members and play a significant role in strengthening the department. Resources such as these will greatly enhance this vital discipline.

“The College of Sciences and Mathematics at Auburn has placed a priority on mathematical sciences and looks to that discipline to be a leader in scholarship, instruction and outreach,” said COSAM Dean Stewart Schneller. “The recognition of this vision by Sandy and Don Logan with their commitment is sincerely appreciated. The trust and confidence that Sandy and Don have placed in the mission of the college and its mathematical sciences is reassuring and humbling.”

Don Logan’s career in the publishing field reached a pinnacle in 2002 when he was appointed chairman of Time Warner’s Media and Communications group. Logan has credited a foundation in mathematics at Auburn University as a key part of sharpening his analytical skills.

“Classes dealing with abstract math challenged you to open your mind and look at all sides of an issue to prove or disprove, to find what was really true,” said Logan. “In every business decision I have been involved with, that discipline and training have been very valuable.” Logan graduated magna cum laude from AU in 1966 with a degree in mathematics, and received an honorary doctorate from Auburn in 1997.

In addition to their on-going financial support of Auburn University, both Don and Sandy Logan have served in numerous leadership roles at Auburn. Don is a member of the Foundation Board of Directors and in 2005 received COSAM’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. Sandy serves on the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art Advisory Board and is active in the Society of Women in Sciences and Mathematics in COSAM.

Auburn University’s largest-ever fundraising campaign is currently underway. The “It Begins at Auburn” Campaign is a $500 million comprehensive campaign that will raise funds for all colleges and schools on campus as well as the AU Libraries, athletics, Auburn University at Montgomery and the AU museums. The campaign’s focus includes student, faculty and program endowments; facilities and equipment; campus beautification; research; and current operations.

(Contributed by Tim Meeks.)

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Auburn University is a top-50 ranked public university that has provided instruction, research and outreach to benefit the state and nation for more than 150 years. A more than $4 billion economic impact on the state - including more than $2.4 billion in providing jobs and people resources - demonstrates AU’s commitment to this mission. AU has more than 214,000 alumni, and provides 130 degree options to nearly 23,500 graduate and undergraduate students.

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