Influential professor sparks gift of gratitude

In the fall of 1990, Dr. Richard Alexander was head of the mechanical engineering department and teaching a mechanical design course to a room full of Aggies. Among them sat a student who would be so impacted by the course and professor that they would ultimately establish two endowed scholarships in his honor.

The donor — who has chosen to remain anonymous — established two Dr. Richard M. Alexander ’65 Honorary Endowed Scholarships to help mechanical engineering students in financial need. The scholarship recognizes the work of Alexander, now a professor emeritus in the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution, for his lasting influence while honoring the formative role the university and department have played in their life.

An anonymous gift of gratitude

During their time at Texas A&M University, the donor recalled Alexander’s personal investment in the success of his students. When their entire class did not perform well on the first exam, Alexander used it as a learning opportunity, reflecting his fierce dedication.

According to the donor, Alexander worked with the class to ensure everyone understood the fundamentals, regularly preparing students before moving on to the next subject. They admired the way he treated his students, both commanding and showing respect.

As a student, the donor experienced the same financial stress some are under now and is excited for the opportunity to lend a helping hand to an engineering student in similar shoes.