Roy Wensley
School of Science Dean and Professor Roy Wensley may have earned a PhD in physics, but in a Jan term course on Coral Reefs and Culture he also teaches geology. This January he will take students to caverns in the Sierras filled with ancient coral reefs and then to Curacao and Bonaire to see living reefs. "That's what I value about the broad liberal arts education that Saint Mary's provides - opportunities to learn outside your specialized area of technical expertise," he said "I wish I'd had that opportunity as an undergraduate, and it's my goal to help continue that educational tradition through a gift to Saint Mary's in my estate plan."
Dr. Wensley sees his decision to include Saint Mary's College in his estate plan as an expression of the value he places on the unique educational experience that the College provides. "Saint Mary's has given a lot to me, including a great career, and I want to give back by supporting the broad education that Saint Mary's provides and ensuring access to a quality education for future students."
Dr. Wensley joined Saint Mary's after earning his doctorate, and now serves as dean of the School of Science and professor in the Physics and Astronomy departments. During his 26-plus year career at the College, Dr. Wensley has been a true pioneer. Not only did he help to establish a Physics major and department, but he also wrote a National Science Foundation Grant that connected the College to the Internet. Most recently he led a successful effort by the School of Science Advisory Board to secure funding for a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer that dramatically improved the College's teaching practices and research capabilities. With his bequest to Saint Mary's, Dr. Wensley continues to demonstrate leadership as one of a growing number of faculty who want to create a legacy by ensuring that students continue to have access to the College's high-quality, liberal arts education.
As a scholar-teacher, Dr. Wensley is accomplished in both the laboratory and the classroom. He's served as Principal Investigator on two National Science Foundation (NSF) research grants. He's also led efforts to secure grants and awards targeted towards students, such as an NSF grant that provided scholarships for low-income students studying STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), and most recently led a team of faculty and staff who successfully obtained a grant from the U.S. Education Department that will provide resources for Hispanic students majoring in STEM fields. In 2009, he was recognized as Professor of the Year for an approach founded on joint responsibility and individualized support for students. "I hope that students will gain skills that set them up for success in many different areas of life, and that the classes they take will impact their values and perspectives by allowing them to see the world differently." For that reason, he most enjoys teaching classes for non-science majors. "Even if they only take one science course, I want students to like thinking about physics," he says.
In addition to providing for Saint Mary's through a bequest in his trust, Dr. Wensley has supported the College annually with gifts to the School of Science equipment fund and the endowment. He hopes that this planned gift will encourage other people to think about supporting Saint Mary's in their estate plans. "This gift allows me to allocate my resources in accordance with my values," he says. "After my family - wife Linda and three sons - Saint Mary's is my next priority."
The College honors all donors who have included Saint Mary's College in their estate plans with membership in the Lasallian Legacy Circle: Honoring Brother U. Albert Rahill. "Bequests in estate plans are an opportunity to create a legacy at Saint Mary's, and to give back to an institution that has made a profound positive impact professionally and personally," said Courtney Bennett, Planned Giving Officer. "Gifts through a will or trust are one of the easiest ways to support the College. Our planned giving staff can discuss a variety of options, especially for people who want to make a planned gift while still caring for their families."
