A West Virginia University industrial engineering graduate who is developing a computer language is set to deliver the next College of Engineering and Mineral Resources Distinguished Lecture Thursday, Feb. 8.

Thomas Messmores talk,Five Essentials to Learn in Engineering School,will begin at 2 p.m. in Room G-83 of the Engineering Sciences Building on the Evansdale Campus. It is free and open to the public. The event will be followed by a reception.

As a WVU student, Messmore was a member of several honoraries and was active in student government. After graduating from WVU in 1967, he earned a masters degree in business administration from Harvard University.

Messmore has held management and executive positions with various companies, including State Street Bank and Trust Co., Interactive Data Corp., Keystone Massachusetts Group, Travelers Insurance Co., UBS Asset Management and Zurich Insurance Group.

He is the owner of T.E. Messmore Associates, an analytical consulting firm that focuses on risk and investment management, and is developing a computer language called CONCISE , which facilitates financial modeling, statistical analysis and simulation.

Messmore currently serves as a member of the WVU Foundation Board of Directors. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife, Sharon. The couple has four children.