WEP Endowments

Four endowments benefit the Women in Engineering Program (WEP) and students involved in WEP initiatives. Donate online today by selecting "Engineering, College of" and "Women in Engineering Program".

Betsy Ancker-Johnson Endowment for Women in Engineering

The Betsy Ancker-Johnson Endowment for Women in Engineering was established in 2002. Through this endowment, Ms. Ancker-Johnson, a member of the Cockrell School of Engineering Foundation Advisory Council, hopes to help correct the underrepresentation of women studying and working in engineering. Ms. Ancker-Johnson received her Ph.D. in Physics and has contributed to the scientific knowledge of plasma physics and discovered the pinch effect in semiconductors. In 1975, she was the fourth woman elected to the National Academy of Engineers, considered the highest honor an engineer may receive.

Lillian C. Ho Memorial Endowment in Women in Engineering

The Lillian C. Ho Memorial Endowment in Women in Engineering was established by the Ho family to honor Lillian's commitment, strength, and creativity in the field of engineering. As an active member and officer in the Society of Women Engineers and an Engineering Student Ambassador, Lillian (BS Electrical and Computer Engineering 1995) worked hard to ensure a positive educational experience for women in engineering as well as all prospective and current students. The endowment provides funding for WEP programs and scholarships for student mentors, serving as a testament to Lillian's work to better the mentoring, community building and retention of women in the field of engineering. It is this legacy that, despite her being taken from us at such a young age, will live on for generations to come.

Karen D. Hagedorn Endowment

The Karen D. Hagedorn Endowment was established to provide financial support for WEP and scholarship awards to outstanding women engineering students. Karen Hagedorn (BS Petroleum Engineering 1986) actively participated in a variety of engineering organizations while a student at UT including Tau Beta Pi, the Student Engineering Council and the Society of Petroleum Engineers and was honored as an Endowed Presidential Scholar. She received her PhD from Stanford and works for ExxonMobil. After five years in Alaska working on the pipeline, she now lives in Houston and works as the Research Supervisor for the Reservoir Division of the Upstream Department. Dr. Hagedorn is an avid Longhorn football fan and was a charter member (2002-2003) of the Women in Engineering Program Advisory Council (WEPAC).

Friends of Alec Women in Engineering Fund

A campaign was initiated by WEP in the Fall of 2000 to establish an endowment for recruitment scholarships to encourage women to pursue engineering at The University of Texas at Austin.  Alumni were encouraged to designate a gift to WEP through the Friends of Alec Annual Giving Program and the endowment was established in the Fall of 2003.  Contributions to the endowment continue today through Friends of Alec gifts designated to WEP, providing funds for recruitment and retention scholarships as well as WEP initiatives.

UT Online Giving
Join WEP's campaign to fund the Friends of Alec Women in Engineering Fund program support and student scholarships. Donate online today by selecting "Engineering, College of" and "Women in Engineering Program".