Local gift leads to endowed dean position

The School of Engineering is the first at the University to hold an endowed dean’s position, according to a UNM press release.

This is thanks to an Albuquerque couple, Jim and Ellen King, whose gift of $500,000 will create the Jim and Ellen King Dean of Engineering and Computing, according to the release.

The donation, combined with matched funds from the state, will provide the $1 million funding needed to create the endowed deanship, according to the release.

The Board of Regents approved the naming of the endowed deanship at its April 8 meeting, according to the release.

According to the release, UNM’s School of Engineering will join other top-ranked engineering schools around the country with endowed dean positions, including Stanford, Purdue, Duke, Cornell and others.

The endowed deanship will generate additional funds annually for the School of Engineering dean, which can be then used for research or other programs to benefit students or UNM, according to the release.

The release states the Kings as saying that their gift reflects the love they have for UNM and the future of New Mexico. They said they are honored to provide the School of Engineering with a strong structure for years to come.

“We believe in great leadership, and this match provided a very attractive opportunity to have a real impact on the School and all that it can be. How could we not do it? We are honored to have his opportunity to make such a big difference,” Jim King is quoted as saying in the press release.

According to the release, the Kings have been regular supporters of UNM over the years, donating to various programs, including the UNM Cancer Center.