VanLeer Legacy Gift Supports Systems Engineering Students

Mary VanLeer M.Eng. ’12 and William VanLeer

Mary VanLeer M.Eng. ’12 and her husband William are investing in the next generation of Stevens innovators. Their generous bequest establishes the William L. and Mary D. VanLeer Endowed Scholarship and the Mary VanLeer M.Eng. ’12 Endowed Research Fund, creating impactful opportunities for emerging leaders in systems engineering.

The scholarship is deeply meaningful to them. For Mary, earning her master’s degree in systems engineering at Stevens in 2012 was an empowering experience that elevated her career. Will was accepted to Stevens as an undergraduate in 1963 but was unable to enroll because he was $600 short of tuition. Will’s experience inspired them to create the scholarship to help students with financial hardships.

The couple met in 1987 while working at StorageTek in Colorado. Mary has held executive technology and engineering roles across major organizations including International Game Technology, Sun Microsystems and StorageTek. Her Stevens degree, she says, gave her authority when she advocated for systems engineering with corporate executives.

“I want to help students to make a difference in the world and understand the value of thinking holistically,” Mary says. “With research, it’s not about what’s next. Students need to think about what’s next after next. I want to empower them to ask the hard questions.”

Will worked at IBM for seven years and as a non-degreed advisory engineer at StorageTek for 34 years. With their support, he wants to inspire students to become “leaders instead of workers.”

Mary adds, “Our hope is that they offer the world possibilities.”

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