Institute support

About Janet Quinney Lawson

Above: Statue of Janet Quinney Lawson outside the USU Natural Resources Building in Logan Characterized by friends and family as a champion of environmental education and conservation, Janet Quinney Lawson dedicated herself to ensuring research and teaching in these vital areas thrive at Utah State University. The daughter of S.J. “Joe” and Jessie E. Quinney, Janet was instrumental in developing relationships between her own foundation, as well as the foundation that bears her parents’ names, that have enabled USU to become a leader in natural resources and its related fields.

Janet was well-known throughout the community as a supporter of many projects and organizations. She was an avid skier and golfer. She loved Bear Lake and the mountains around Alta. She was a pioneer in running the rivers of the Western U.S. and supported many projects throughout her life to help others connect with the beauty of Utah.

In October 2021, the Janet Quinney Lawson Foundation gave the lead gift of $7 million to name the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute of Land, Water, and Air. The generous gift creates an endowment that provides core support for the important work of the institute in perpetuity and is a fitting tribute to the legacy of Janet Quinney Lawson’s steadfast support of USU.

Additional seed funding for the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, & Air comes from the following sources: • Utah State University • My Good Fund • Chevron Corporation

Utah State University and the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air will focus on convening the right stakeholders to research, to study, and to better understand daunting challenges facing Utah. We welcome the input and partnership with local government policymakers, state agencies, nonprofits, elected officials, and our colleagues at other institutions of higher education. Together, in a collaborative approach, Utah can position itself to best address these complicated problems.