Dunns establish civil engineering excellence endowment

Diana and Mark Dunn have established the Diana Ramirez Dunn '82 and Mark A. Dunn '82 Excellence Endowment. Distributions from this endowment will be used at the discretion of the department head to support the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Texas A&M University.

Diana (“Diane”) and Mark are both first-generation Aggies and were drawn to Texas A&M by the campus atmosphere, core values, reputation and in-state convenience. “When we reflect on how we became the people we are today, we both realize that A&M and the civil engineering department were a perfect match for us and formed an integral part of who we are as individuals, as a couple and as professionals,” Mark said.  

Both Diana and Mark are class of 1982 graduates of the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. They met in class during the fall semester of 1979 and married in 1984. 

“As we moved around the country and world, we were always proud to claim the Aggie title,” Diana said. “It means something and people know it. We have remained close friends with several other civil engineering classmates from that time period and still get together regularly with them.”

The Dunn’s aim in establishing this endowment is to show appreciation and confidence in what Texas A&M is doing and to support the university’s core values, programs, students, the civil engineering department and to inspire others to give.

Thus far in their giving history, the Dunns have established an Endowed Century Club Fund, Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship in Civil Engineering and an Endowed Civil Engineering Excellence Fund. 

“We recognize how Texas A&M has helped shape our lives in a positive way and believe what happens at A&M is good for Texas, the USA and the world,” they said. “Supporting A&M is a way we can leverage our position to benefit the greater good.”

The Dunns said the civil engineering department is particularly special to them and they enjoy supporting its climb to the top of the rankings. “Our gifting provides a purposeful and rewarding mechanism to stay connected and involved at A&M, which is something we cherish,” they said. 

After Mark graduated from Texas A&M, he went on to earn his master’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin before embarking on a 34-year career with Chevron.  Diana worked 7 years in environmental engineering before retiring to raise a family. Diana and Mark have two children, Jeff, Texas A&M class of 2013, and Michelle, who graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2017.