Proud Aggie Karen Olson, class of ’87, and her husband, Louis Turner, recently gave back to Texas A&M University in the form of a generous gift to establish the Karen E. Olson ’87 and Louis H. Turner Endowed Excellence in Research Faculty Award in the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering.
“Being an Aggie is very identifiable,” said Olson. “People recognize my ring, even on the other side of the world. It has opened doors for me.”
The award will provide recognition for a faculty member who performs outstanding research. Recipients of this award will be determined by the head of the petroleum engineering department, per university guidelines.
“My education at Texas A&M has made a difference in my career,” said Olson. “I have applied that knowledge to everywhere I’ve worked. Without that degree, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
Olson has been a completion or reservoir engineer for several companies during a career that spans more than 30 years. She has handled challenging duties and leadership roles, both onshore and offshore, in the U.S. and overseas. She has amassed considerable expertise in the design, modeling and operational execution of hydraulic fracturing but has always recognized the value of keeping an open mind to learning new things.
“It’s very important to stay in contact with your professors, they’ll be on that leading edge of research,” Olson said. “Just through the oil and gas industry, we’ve stayed in touch. One of the things I can do now is give back to them, to A&M.”
A Distinguished Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Olson holds a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M. She currently serves on the industry board for the petroleum engineering department.
How to Give
The College of Engineering is one of the leading engineering programs in the United States, ranking first in undergraduate enrollment and ninth in graduate enrollment. Faculty endowments encourage and reward faculty members who embody the passion for, and commitment to, the education of engineering students. They bring years of rich experiences from the field and add tremendous value to the College of Engineering. If you are interested in supporting faculty or would like more information on how you can give, please contact Kelly Corcoran, senior director of development.