Murray State University announces establishment of the Dr. Bassam Atieh Memorial Scholarship Endowment

 

MURRAY, Ky. — Murray State University and the Murray State University Foundation are pleased to announce the establishment of the Dr. Bassam Atieh Memorial Scholarship Endowment. Made possible with generous gifts from family and friends of the late Dr. Bassam Atieh, this new fund will memorialize Atieh’s legacy by assisting students at Murray State in obtaining an education in the field of occupational safety and health. 

After earning his Doctor of Science in Industrial Hygiene from Tulane University in 1991, Atieh went on to devote his entire professional career, spanning more than three decades, to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) at Murray State University. During this time, he touched the lives of thousands across campus, particularly students and colleagues within the OSH Department, as well as those he worked with during his tenure as College Head of JH Richmond Residential College.

Above all else, Atieh valued his relationships with graduate students in the OSH Department. As departmental graduate coordinator and advisor for every master’s student in the program for more than 30 years, he became a trusted mentor and beloved father figure to generations of students. 

Layal Atieh, Atieh’s daughter and Murray State alumna, said, "My father was admired and respected for his accomplishments as a professor, educator and leader, but he was truly loved for his mentorship, warmth, and compassionate, generous heart. This memorial scholarship is deeply meaningful because it not only honors and celebrates his life and the profound impact he made on so many lives, but also ensures that his memory and legacy continue to live on."

Atieh also served for many years as faculty advisor to the student section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), leading the group to numerous “Section of the Year” awards.

“Dr. Atieh was a highly respected professor in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health at Murray State, a long-time faculty advisor to the Murray State University AIHA student section that won numerous awards, and instrumental in leading generations of students into the field of industrial hygiene,” said Dr. Randal Keller, Murray State Professor Emeritus of Occupational Safety and Health. “This scholarship will continue Dr. Atieh’s vision for the success of graduate students in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health.”

The scholarship will specifically support graduate students in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health. Atieh’s dedication to the success and well-being of his graduate students was unmatched, and this scholarship will ensure that his spirit will continue to have a positive influence on future OSH graduate students for decades to come.

Contributions to the Dr. Bassam Atieh Memorial Scholarship Endowment can be made by contacting the Murray State University Office of Development at 270-809-3001 or by making a secure gift online at murraystate.edu/giving. For more information, please contact Kevin Munsey, Director of Development, at kmunsey1@murraystate.edu.