George and Barbara Raven Endowed Chair for Mathematics
George Raven
Barbara Raven
Creation of an Endowed Chair
Creation of an endowed chair is a powerful way for supporters to enhance instruction. Endowing a chair represents the highest possible honor; endowed chairs will further the College’s tradition of excellence in public higher education. They enable the College to offer a more diverse curriculum that is not dependent on usual income sources such as tuition, and they provide long-term financial stability.
Endowing a chair provides the faculty member with recognition for achievement in his or her field, and the satisfaction that Jackson Community College supports quality teaching in that discipline. Students are challenged and guided by exposure to the highest quality academic leadership.
In addition to cementing these instructors’ positions at JCC with this “lifetime” honor, each endowed chair will also:
- Direct a maximum of $10,000 annually for purchase of instructional equipment within that discipline;
- Receive $2,500 for professional development of the chair to pursue and continue studies in that discipline each year;
- Develop and maintain promotional information, including a web page for the chair to promote activities and initiatives of that department;
- Receive three hours of release time each academic year for advancement of that discipline;
- Receive $3,000 annually to construct a colloquium, conference or similar educational opportunity to benefit students of that department.
About George & Barbara Raven
Barbara Raven and her late husband, George, have helped make dreams come true for many students at Jackson Community College. As faithful contributors to JCC since 1989, their generosity brought about the George and Barbara Raven Student Aid Fund, providing scholarship money to more than 155 young men and women over the years.
As natives of Jackson, the plans and successes of students through their scholarship program have helped them remain connected with the College and their hometown. Following graduation from Jackson High School, George in ’33 and Barbara in ’35, George started a career in engineering with a degree from Jackson Junior College (’36) before completing his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1938. They were married in 1942, just after World War II started. George worked with the defense industry during the war, and spent the rest of his career as an electrical engineer with major companies in Michigan, California and Utah. He passed away in March, 2001.
Helping students pursue their education is a cause that is close to Barbara’s heart. Graduating from high school during the years of the Great Depression, the tough financial and personal times left no money for college. An aunt loaned Barbara money to go to comptometer school, and she returned to Jackson to work for Goodyear doing payroll with a “comptometer,” an early version of an adding machine.
Though she was unable to get a formal college education, Barbara is pleased she and her husband have been able to open the door for future generations to go to college.
