Trailblazer Barbara Beckmann Confers $5 Million Gift to Alma Mater
Oxford, Mississippi – April 11, 2024
The first female graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Engineering, Barbara Kerr Beckmann, has dedicated an extravagant $5 million estate gift to her former school on Giving Day 2024. The University envisages honoring this significant contribution by naming the Department of Chemical Engineering after her.
Fuel Behind the Gift
Originally from Arkansas, Beckmann now lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and has served ExxonMobil as a senior economic advisor, providing keen insights on planning and optimization. Her groundbreaking career with the company not only marks her as their first female engineer, but also boasts a career span of 63 years – longer than any of her colleagues.
Barbara Beckmann confesses her profound fascination with problem solving, mathematics, and science directed her into an engineering career, a turn she recalls almost took her into medicine. She adds, her engineering degree from Ole Miss laid the essential groundwork that led to her prosperous career, declaring, “I committed this gift because I felt Ole Miss had a huge part in where I am today, and the school does a much better job than other universities in preparing engineering students for their careers.”
University Grateful for Beckmann’s Support
Chancellor Glenn Boyce expressed immense gratitude for Beckmann’s munificence and praises her remarkable spirit. Beckmann has already been of service in the past, offering financial and intellectual help via memberships on various engineering-related boards in the university. She previously facilitated 21 students to attend a conference in Los Angeles through the Barbara K. Beckman Fund.
Legacy Gift’s Purpose
The Barbara Kerr Beckmann Department of Chemical Engineering Endowment seeks to fortify the Department with substantial income, enabling it to continue providing high-quality education, conducting research and serving future generations. According to Viola L. Acoff, Dean of the School of Engineering, the Endowment demonstrates Beckmann’s continued support, zeal to mentor budding engineers, and inspire others to follow in her footsteps.
Beckmann’s Career Journey
Throughout her journey, Beckmann admits encountering her fair share of skepticism and prejudice in a male-dominated field. Despite facing underestimation in job interviews due to her gender early in her career, she weathered the challenges and went on to become a respected figure in engineering.
After her graduation in 1961, Hayward’s Humble Oil and Refinery Co. hired her as a computer analyst, helping her gather vital understanding of the refinery process and develop robust simulation programs. Seven years later, she transitioned into an engineering position. As ExxonMobil morphed through various mergers and rebranding, Beckmann remained with the company, honing her engineering insights and expertise.
Her Influence Continues
Furthermore, Beckmann spent her prosperous career nurturing young talents. She believes assisting these aspiring individuals positively impacted the company as it further developed its talent pool. Beckmann feels proud that her mentees include individuals holding high-ranking directorial and managerial positions within ExxonMobil.
Her impressive career earned her numerous awards, membership in various organizations, and recognition as one of the ‘Top 10 People’ by the American Business Women’s Association and induction into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame in 1997. Beckmann’s passion beyond her work includes active participation in community nonprofits and travel, as she has visited all seven continents in her free time.
To contribute to the Barbara Kerr Beckmann Department of Chemical Engineering Endowment, contributions through checks or online via the official University of Mississippi Foundation website are welcome.
