Ju-Nam and Pearl (Linn) Chew were Chinese immigrants of modest means, growing up in El Paso, Texas, and Flint, Michigan, respectively. They considered education to be their opportunity for a better life. As newlyweds, Pearl supported Ju-Nam through graduate school. Ju-Nam earned a doctorate in chemical engineering at UT in 1953. He was a research engineer for 30 years at Mobil Oil’s field research lab in Dallas and taught unit operations and calculus for many years at UT Arlington.

After their children reached school age, Pearl earned a master’s degree in education at North Texas State University and taught in Dallas for 20 years. They were lifelong supporters of UT, and all three of their sons studied at the university.

The Ju-Nam and Pearl Chew Endowed Presidential Fellowship in Engineering will benefit graduate students at the Cockrell School of Engineering with scholastic merit, that includes artistic, musical, and creative merit and leadership roles in current or prior university or industry settings.