A gift of $50,000 to the West Virginia University Eberly College of Arts and Sciences will increase financial support for graduate students in the Department of Psychology.
The gift from Dr. William Fremouw and his wife, Ann, establishes an award that honors their family legacy: Dr. Fremouw taught at WVU for 41 years, Ann earned three degrees from WVU, and their daughters, Leah and Dana, attended WVU.
The gift endows an annual award for one or two doctoral students in clinical psychology who have proposed an outstanding master’s thesis and have participated in departmental services. The funds will provide additional financial support for their graduate research or conference presentation.
“We are so grateful for the Fremouw family’s enduring contribution to our department,” Dr. Claire St. Peter, chair of the Department of Psychology, said. “Bill positively impacted the lives of so many students, faculty and staff during his tenure. It is wonderful to now have additional resources to support the innovative work being conducted by the psychology graduate students.”
Fremouw joined the Department of Psychology at WVU in 1975 as an assistant professor and remained until his retirement in 2016. During that time, he mentored dozens of thesis and doctoral students and chaired 36 doctoral dissertations.
He also served in key administrative appointments, such as department chair and clinical director, and received awards for outstanding teaching and outstanding service from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. He published over 100 research articles, chapters and books with his students on clinical/forensic topics such as suicide, stalking and adolescent sex offenses.
A native of upstate New York, Fremouw earned his bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Massachusetts before coming to Morgantown. Fremouw and Ann now reside in Richmond, Virginia, to be near their daughter, Leah, her husband, Jacob Powell, and their grandson, Hazen. They return to Morgantown regularly to visit with friends.
Fremouw’s gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.