The Colegroves Have Chemistry

Former Texas A&M University chemistry students Dr. Brenda Thies Colegrove ’86 and Dr. Lloyd F. Colegrove ’83 ’89 established a fund to support research opportunities in the Department of Chemistry. The gift will fund scholarships, research programs and any operational needs, making education more accessible and affordable for future generations of chemistry students.   

The Colegrove’s endowment is deeply rooted in their own experiences at Texas A&M, where Brenda and Lloyd first crossed paths in 1984 as students and quickly discovered they have their own chemistry. 

“We first met in the front hallway of the ’32 wing of the old chemistry building, and after a long-distance courtship, we were married in 1988,” Brenda Colegrove said. “We benefited greatly from the education we received within Texas A&M — the chemistry department in particular — and subsequent engagements in graduate school.”  

Brenda earned her doctorate in theoretical chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 1990, while Lloyd focused on chemical physics and spectroscopy at Texas A&M. After enjoying their successful careers at The Dow Chemical Company, the Colegroves decided to give back to their alma mater.  

“We became aware that the College of Arts and Sciences was seeking to expand funding for summer research assistantships for current and future generations of chemistry majors,” Lloyd Colegrove said. “Having benefited from the same support when we were in school, we felt this was a good match to our desire for funding longer-term, meaningful gifts.” 

The undergraduate research endowment, which bears their names, will specifically support summer research assistantships for chemistry students. It will provide students with the mentorship and resources to participate in hands-on research — critical for success in both academia and future careers. 

“We believe our engagement in undergraduate research paved the way for our graduate pursuits that set us up well for our future career success,” Brenda Colegrove said.  

Both credit their time at Texas A&M with instilling in them a sense of responsibility to serve their communities with excellence and selfless service — standards that define the Aggie Core Values. Their endowment is a legacy that will support undergraduate chemistry students for years to come. As Texas A&M continues to encourage future leaders in science, the Colegrove’s gift to the Department of Chemistry reflects Brenda and Lloyd’s deep gratitude for their education and their ongoing commitment to the Aggie Core Values long after graduation.