WMU Home > WMU News >

WMU News

Paper Tech grad gives back to WMU program

April 4, 2008

KALAMAZOO--A graduate of Western Michigan University's Paper Science program is giving back to his alma mater by starting an endowment fund.

The Richard and Marilyn (Lynn) Hartman Family Endowment is named after 1977 paper science graduate Richard Hartman and his wife. In addition to being an alumnus of the program, Hartman holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from WMU, as well as a master's and doctoral degrees from the Institute of Paper Chemistry.

Hartman also serves on the Paper Technology Foundation Board of Directors and is a member of the Governance Committee.

"Rick took on a leadership role on the foundation board and has contributed to our revitalization of the Foundation Governance," says John Bergin, managing director of the Paper Technology Foundation Inc. "Rick is currently involved in the implementation of our strategic plan and is working to establish linkages with all of our alumni."

The Hartmans have agreed to make current and future cash gifts to WMU to establish a permanent endowment fund to provide scholarships, recruitment and other sustaining fund requirements as determined by the Paper Technology Foundation Board of Trustees for WMU's Department of Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Imaging.

Scholarships funded by the endowment will be awarded by a selection committee and will be renewable if the recipient meets certain requirements. The foundation also may designate spendable proceeds of the endowment to other activities as required to sustain studies in paper science, paper engineering and the environmental and chemical engineering options, including recruiting, funding and support of graduate students.

In his professional life, Hartman, who is from Flint, Mich. and has extended family in the Battle Creek, Mich., and Saginaw, Mich., areas, is director of product development for the printing and communication paper business at International Paper in Memphis, Tenn. International Paper is a global forest products, paper and packaging company with primary markets and manufacturing operations in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia, complemented by xpedx, an extensive North American merchant distribution system. The company has approximately 60,000 employees, 42,000 of whom are located in the United States. Prior to joining IP, Hartman served in a number of mill operation and leadership roles.

Lynn Hartman, who is from Midland, Mich., graduated from Central Michigan University in 1979 with bachelor's degree in business and computer science. She held positions with NCR and Dow Chemical Co.

Media contact: Mark Schwerin, (269) 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu

WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
(269) 387-8400
www.wmich.edu/wmu/news