In Honor Of

By taking advantage of the ExxonMobil Foundation's matching gift program, Thomas Mason '89 turned his $6,500 contribution into an endowment for fellowships with a current value of more than $30,000, which he plans to grow to $50,000. With matching funds through the State of Maryland Private Donor Incentive Program (PDIP) and other private incentive sources, the endowment will reach $100,000. The goal of the Thomas Mason Interdisciplinary Fund is to expose doctoral students in physics to problems and approaches in non-physics disciplines. Here Mason goes head-to-head with Vision.

Occupation: Physicist.

Maryland Major: Physics, with a dual degree in Electrical Engineering. Master's and Ph.D. in Physics from Princeton University, with a year of post-doctoral work in Chemical Physics at the Paul Pascal Center for Research in Bordeaux, France.

I'll never forget: "Richard Ferrell's electricity and magnetism class. He's such a great teacher, and there were so few students; I felt like I was getting personal instruction."

Most memorable professor: "William MacDonald. He was a wonderful mentor to me when I was an undergraduate physics student."

Fondest Maryland memory: "The cherry blossoms in the spring."

Philosophy: "Actively develop connections."

Biggest vice: Raspberry scones.

The book I'm reading now: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre by B. Traven.

My dream for Maryland is: "for Maryland to be the first major university to break down the walls between disciplines and departments and adopt a more integrated, cross-disciplinary program. I definitely think a broader viewpoint is good, especially for scientists."

Describe your perfect day off: "Hiking in the French countryside on a cool, sunny day with my wife, my camera, and a picnic lunch."

Which historical figure you would like to have met: Plato.

What is in your briefcase: An issue of MacWorld, and my lunch, a banana.
If I weren't a physicist, I would be: A photographer.

Why did you give to Maryland? "It is a wonderful university filled with professors who make teaching a high priority."

Why were you inspired to become a philanthropist now? "I enjoy giving and helping others, and I think it would be neat to see the fruit of this program while I am still young."

Why did you choose to establish a fund to expose a doctoral student in physics to problems and approaches in non-physics disciplines? "I think that many of the challenges in the modern world require a multi- or cross-disciplinary approach. I hope this fund will help open the eyes of students to other possibilities and other frontiers."

How did your company's matching gift program factor into your decision to make a gift? "It encouraged me to have a bigger vision for my gift by providing considerable financial leverage."

In five years, I expect that the Thomas Mason Interdisciplinary Fund will: "Already have been active and helping a student to broaden his or her vision in a different area-and to maybe see a problem, or a solution even, that might help others.

If I were asked to talk to someone thinking about establishing a lasting legacy at Maryland, I would say: "If they're thinking about it, they probably should do it. A little giving can go a long way."