The College also announced that Dr. Jennifer MacLennan, a rhetorician with several years of teaching technical and professional communication at the college level, has been named as the first occupant of the Chair.

She spent six years at University of Lethbridge, where she developed a comprehensive program in rhetoric and communication and piloted a variety of experiental learning projects in communications. She's also the author of two textbooks on communication and more than a dozen papers on these subjects. 

Seaman -- who with his brothers Byron and Don parlayed a small Calgary drilling company into the mighty Bow Valley Industries -- will contribute $1 million over 10 years for the establishment of the Chair, through the University's First and Best Campaign.

 The main purpose of the Chair is to teach undergraduate and graduate classes in technical and professional communications. As occupant of the Chair, MacLennan will also conduct research in innovative communication techniques and methodologies and work closely with the engineering community to enhance the communication skills of practising engineers. She also plans to work with Arts and Science and other professional Colleges. 

At a dinner held in his honor on September 11, 1998, President Ivany and Dean Franco Berruti of the College of Engineering presented 'Doc' Seaman with a certificate in recognition of his generous gift to the University.
 

 l to r: D.K. (Doc) Seaman, Jennifer MacLennan, and Dean of Engineering Franco Berruti.