William "Bill" R. Brinkley Endowed Scholarships

The William (Bill) R. Brinkley Endowment honors a distinguished graduate of Sam Houston State University and internationally recognized scientist, educator and public policy spokesperson. Bill Brinkley, born in Weldon, Texas, began his career in the biological sciences in the Biology Department at Sam Houston State University where he received the BS (/959) and MS (196/) degrees in biology. While working on his Master’s degree under Dr. Jimmie Long, Bill got his first microscopic view of chromosomes in the brain of the mosquito. This was the beginning of a distinguished career in which Dr. Brinkley won international recognition and honors for his ground breaking work in the study of chromosomes and mitotic apparatus during cell division. William Brinkley received the Ph. D degree in cell biology from Iowa State University in 1964. In 1991 Dr. Brinkley began his long and distinguished career at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston where he was appointed Professor and Vice Chairman, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Studies and Vice President for Graduate Sciences. He was later named as Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Senior Vice-president for Graduate sciences. During his distinguished career as a research scientist, Dr. Brinkley authored or coauthored over 180 peer-reviewed articles, 75 invited articles and book chapters and three books. Dr. Brinkley is widely recognized for his contributions in public science policy. He founded the American Society for Cell Biology’s first legislative alert network and has been active in advocating support for biomedical research at the federal level. He currently serves on the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Advisory Panel on Research, and is the founder of the association’s Graduate Research, Education And Training (GREAT) Committee. Dr. Brinkley was bestowed with many honors and accomplishments. Dr. Brinkley was recently elected president of the Texas Group which includes our National Academy of Science members, National Academy of Engineers members, National Academy of Medicine members and the Texas Nobel Prize Winners. After his retirement, he and his wife, Shirley, will be spending much of their leisure time at their home on Lake Livingston.