CANTON – St. Lawrence University has received a transformative $3.5 million gift from anonymous donors to establish the Mark Erickson Endowed Professorship in Geology, honoring Professor Emeritus Mark Erickson’s more than four decades of teaching, mentorship, and scholarship.
For generations of St. Lawrence students, Erickson has embodied the spirit of curiosity and discovery that defines the University’s liberal arts approach. A gifted teacher and mentor, he inspired countless students to connect science with imagination-whether in the field, the lab, or in entirely new career paths.
“Mark Erickson’s influence on his students has been profound and enduring,” says Alison Del Rossi, Vice President of the University and Dean of Academic Affairs. “Many alumni have told us he had a remarkable ability to help students see their potential, to challenge them to think deeply, and to encourage them to find their own path of discovery.
This endowed professorship ensures that Dr. Erickson’s legacy of mentorship and exploration will continue to thrive at St. Lawrence.” Erickson, who taught at St. Lawrence for 40 years, holds master’s degrees in paleolimnology and sedimentology and a doctorate in invertebrate paleontology.
His research includes mollusks, micropaleontology, and paleoecology, and his teaching and fieldwork-particularly in North Dakota and around Cincinnati-introduced generations of students to the history of life recorded in rocks and fossils. Many of his students collaborated with him on original research that led to professional publications and new discoveries. The donors are grateful former students who described the gift as a way to honor Erickson’s mentorship and lifelong impact.
The endowed professorship will support teaching, research, and field-based learning for Geology majors, ensuring that future students benefit from the same spirit of mentorship and discovery that has defined Erickson’s career. “Through this extraordinary act of generosity, these students’ gratitude has been transformed into a lasting opportunity for future Laurentians,” says President Kate Morris. “The Mark Erickson Professorship will strengthen our Geology program and continue the tradition of inspired teaching and learning that Mark so beautifully represents.”