Focusing on the Future

Dr. Joseph J. Renn, III '60 enjoyed a successful career as a pulmonary and critical care physician and clinical professor of medicine at WVU Medical School, and he believes his Shepherd education lies at the root of it. It was his undergraduate work at Shepherd that gave him a solid basis for fulfilling his dream to attend medical school - a dream that began at the age of five, when Joe suffered a serious head wound after attempting to restructure his swing set into scaffolding.

"It was 1943 and doctors were trying to conserve medicine due to the war effort," Joe explained. "The doctor told him, 'If you let me sew you up without anesthesia, you'll be a good solider.' At that time, it was important to be a good solider."

During his time at Shepherd, Joe was inspired by Dr. Ray Harris, former chair of the science department, to give back to young people through scholarship awards. In 1999, he and his wife, Robin, established the Elsie Brown Renn and Joseph J. Renn, Jr. Endowed Memorial Scholarship in support of Biology majors as a tribute to his mother and two sisters, who also graduated from Shepherd. And in 2018 they created the Dr. Joseph J. Renn, III '60 and Robin L. Renn Endowed Scholarship in support of students pursuing degrees in the biological and medical sciences. The gift was made through a bequest.

"I think Shepherd gave me my true direction in life and I wanted to give something back," said Joe of his gifts.

Though Robin did not attend Shepherd, she shares her husband's commitment to the university and its future. "When Joe introduced me to Shepherd's campus, I fell in love," she said, explaining that Shepherd is the type of college she would have preferred to attend if finances not been an issue.

Joe and Robin met while working at Monongalia General Hospital in Morgantown, WV, where Robin worked as an x-ray technologist for 30 years. The couple is now enjoying retirement in South Carolina.

"Throughout my career, I invested money in the hopes that I would be able to help others. Since marrying Joe, we've been able to do that together," she explained, adding, "I'm not one to dwell on the past, but rather to focus on what the future holds and how we can help Shepherd students realize their potential and their dreams."