Established in 2007 by Loren and Janiece Smith, Ronald Van Den Bussche, and Meredith Hamilton in recognition of the keen need for additional endowments and gifts in the Department. The purpose of the endowment is to further development opportunities which includes efforts to attract any gifts or endowments made to the Department including professorships, scholarships, laboratory equipment, building renovation, etc. Expenditure of interest from the endowment is restricted to costs associated with attracting these additional gifts and endowments for the Department of Zoology. Those costs would typically include travel to visit potential donors, and communication (print and digital) efforts.