Fresno pediatrician Viriginia Stammer Eaton's interest in how DNA was shared by parents with their children helped guided the establishment of the first endowed chair for Fresno State's College of Science and mathematics. Photo by Louis Reed on unsplash.com

Students at Fresno State will be gaining new opportunities to engage in scientific research thanks to a $1 million donation from the late Dr. Virginia Stammer Eaton.

The donation helps establish the first endowed chair position in the College of Science and Mathematics at Fresno State. The chair position will focus on genetics and molecular biology that will support research for cell structure, molecular mechanisms of inheritance, gene expression and development, according to university news release.

The donation made possible the spring appointment of Joseph Ross as the inaugural Dr. Virginia Stammer Eaton Chair in Genetics and Molecular Biology. 

“These benefits to students aren’t necessarily monetary; they can also include providing experiences and skills that will help them be more competitive in the job market after they graduate,” Ross stated in the release.

 

Eaton died in 2022 at 99 and was a lifelong Fresnan. She graduated from Fresno High School at 17 and attended Stanford University, earning a biology degree in three years.

She then went to medical school at the University of Southern California, graduating in 1947 as the sole woman in her class. After medical school, Eaton began her career as a pediatrician at 25. She dedicated her career to diagnosing and supporting children with developmental disabilities and serving underprivileged communities, according to the release.

Ross said he met Eaton in 2017 when he volunteered to give her a tour of his lab.

“I remember that she was keenly interested in one of the main topics we researched: how cells control the transmission of certain critically important pieces of DNA from parents to their children at fertilization,” Ross said. “I suspect this was perhaps meaningful to Virginia because of her long career in pediatrics and especially how genetics affected her patients. I had no idea at the time that a potential gift was perhaps being planned.”

Eaton was married to banking executive Lewis S. Eaton of the family behind Guarantee Savings in Fresno. He was a conservationist and advocate of parks and public spaces, helping establish Woodward Park. He died in 1992.

As a professor, Ross has worked with numerous master’s students and served on more than 50 graduate committees.

Christopher Meyer, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, said appointing Ross as chair, with his background in research and integrating teaching via course-based undergraduate research experiences, will engage students in projects leading to presentations at regional, national and international meetings and published papers.

“Fresno State’s students are ambassadors of cutting-edge knowledge and skills to our community,” Ross said. “This endowed chair position will help me help the Central Valley, and beyond, leverage genetics and molecular biology to improve our lives through understanding the natural world.”

Ross graduated from the University of Oregon in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. In 2008, he earned his Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Washington in Seattle.

Ross served as faculty adviser for the Fresno State chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science. The organization has guided student members toward careers through workshops, scholarships and assisting them in preparing for visits to professional graduate schools.

“As a university, we strive to provide students with holistic experiences that integrate multiple disciplinary perspectives,” Ross said. “This endowed chair position accelerates our ability to help our students understand and apply aspects of genetics and molecular biology to their lives and communities.”