Two women who thrived at West Virginia University as students are now being honored for decades of support to the University with their time and commitment to fundraising and giving.
On June 8 during Alumni Weekend, Elizabeth “Betsy” Brown and Joan Corson Stamp are receiving the Order of Vandalia, which recognizes those who have made far-reaching contributions to WVU long after their college years. The two honorees this year have dedicated themselves to colleges within the University, the WVU Foundation, the WVU Alumni Association and the University as a whole.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Brown
Elizabeth “Betsy” Brown earned her bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University’s College of Agriculture and Forestry in 1959. She went on to become a successful entrepreneur and amateur photographer. During her time as a WVU student, she pledged the Kappa Kappa Gamma fraternity, thus beginning a lifelong commitment of service to the University.
Over the years, her love for WVU has manifested itself in the many gifts of time and resources given by herself and her husband, Dan Brown, a fellow Mountaineer. The Browns’ loyal support of the University include the establishment of the Brown Lecture Series, which brings talented and successful authors, photographers, actors, composers and others to speak on campus. They also established the Brown Family Faculty Development Fund for the College of Business and Economics and the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design.
In addition, the Browns have funded numerous high-profile projects across campus for Adventure West Virginia, WVU Career Services, the Mountaineer Athletic Club, the Pride of West Virginia., Blaney House, the College of Creative Arts and the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute.
She has also given her time as a member of the College of Creative Arts Visiting Committee, the Blaney House Visiting Committee and the Gold and Blue Travelers. She is a lifetime member of the WVU Alumni Association and a charter member of the WVU Foundation Woodburn Circle Society.
For their dedication and patronage, Betsy and her husband received the WVU Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropists award in 2009.
The Browns reside in Hilton Head, S.C., and enjoy spending time with sons Todd and Chris and grandchildren Erin, Sean, Jack and George.
Joan Corson Stamp
Joan Corson Stamp earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing from the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics in 1973. She went on to become a stalwart patron of her community and an accomplished jewelry designer.
The daughter of WVU Alma Mater composer Louis D. Corson, she is a strong advocate for the University and has volunteered significant time and expertise in helping the institution reach its strategic goals.
A leader in fundraising, she is a long-time member of the WVU Foundation Board of Directors and is currently co-chairing the Northern Panhandle State of Minds committee and serving as member-at-large for the national campaign.
She is the former chair of the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center Gala at the Greenbrier and former chair of the WVU Rosenbaum Family House Board of Advisors. She served on WVU’s College of Creative Arts Board of Visitors and is a member of the WVU Alumni Association, Woodburn Circle Society and is a founding member of the Friends of the Art Museum of WVU.
Outside of the University, she has given her time and talent as a board member of Wesbanco, Inc., the Community Foundation of the Ohio Valley, the Oglebay Foundation, the Wheeling Symphony Society, the West Virginia Arts Commission, the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, the American Symphony Orchestra League and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.
WVU named her the Most Loyal West Virginian in 2010, and she was awarded the YMCA Wheeling Annual Tribute to Women in 2012.
She is married to the Honorable Frederick P. Stamp Jr. who serves on the U.S. District Court, Northern District of West Virginia. They have two children, Andrew and Elizabeth, and reside in Wheeling.
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CONTACT: Liz Dickinson, Office of University Events
304-293-8025, liz.dickinson@mail.wvu.edu
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