David I. Norman Endowment for Faculty Development in Economic Geology

by Andrew Campbell, Coordinator for Alumni Relations and Fund-raising

In 2008, the EES Department lost long-time geochemistry professor Dave Norman. Dave succumbed to a fatal infection while leading an ore-deposits field trip to Ghana with his students in May 2008. (EES Memorial Page). During his 30 years at New Mexico Tech, Dave was instrumental in maintaining our department's highly respected program in ore-deposit studies. Dave taught graduate level courses in ore genesis, ore fluid geochemistry, ore deposit exploration, and geothermal systems and was the thesis advisor for more than 60 M.S. and Ph.D. students, through whom his work lives on.

In Dave's memory, his family and first graduate student, Borden Putnam, have generously initiated an endowed fund to continue our tradition of excellence in ore deposit research. The department is encouraging the New Mexico Tech administration to fill Dave's position with another ore-deposit geologist. This endowed fund will help ensure our ability to attract and support a world-class professor to continue our research and teaching in ore deposits and to maintain and expand our reputation for excellence in this field.

This the Department's most ambitious fund-raising effort to date. Our initial goal is to raise $250,000, the minimum required to initially endow a faculty Chair. Achieving the $250,000 threshold also makes us eligible for matching funds from the state of New Mexico to further increase the endowment principal.

Borden Putnam feels strongly about Dave's contributions to ore deposit research and the need for New Mexico Tech to continue leadership in this field. Borden has generously offered to match alumni donations up to a total of $50,000. He is asking each of you to consider what your Tech education has given you and challenges you to help support this ambitious fundraising effort.