Pitts family pledges portion of estate to CSUB

Planned gift will support Geological Sciences Department

By California State University, Bakersfield

October 7^th, 2025

A new planned gift will provide more academic support to future geology students at California State University, Bakersfield.

The Pitts family has committed to providing a percentage of the future proceeds of their estate to CSUB’s Geological Sciences Department. The gift will be used by the department to fund scholarships, field trips and other programs and services for students.

“It’s awesome being able to do this. This is a program that I want to see succeed,” said Kay Pitts. “The department is evolving in a very good way. They have great instructors who are dedicated to the university, to the students we have here. When we can get more students into science, that’s a good thing for them, for the university and the community.”

Professor and Chair of the Geological Sciences Department Dr. Anthony Rathburn said he appreciates the support the Pitts have given to CSUB’s geology students.

“On behalf of the department, I am sincerely grateful for their generosity,” he said. “Their support will have a lasting, positive impact on our students and on our ability to deliver outstanding educational experiences in the lab and the field.”

Kay started her career in the energy industry in 1980 as a development geologist at the Getty Oil Company while finishing her master’s thesis in geological sciences at the University of Southern California.

“I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors,” Kay said about her interest in geology. “Geology is cool stuff. It’s everywhere. No matter where you go, everything is influenced by geology.”

Kay worked as a geologist at other oil companies, including Texaco and Bechtel Petroleum Operations, but spent most of her career at Aera Energy as a program manager. She worked there for over 16 years until her retirement in 2014.

Kay has been active in the community both before and during her retirement. She served seven years as a Kern County planning commissioner and has been a member of the Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club since 2000. She spent part of that time as president of the club.

Kay is also a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), is a trustee associate for the AAPG Foundation and has also been a part of organizations including Bakersfield Vision 2020, Leadership Bakersfield and California Women Lead.

Kay has been involved at CSUB through serving on a community council under former President Horace Mitchell for several years. She has also participated in 60+ Club events and in Geological Science Department field trips.

Kay and her husband also attend university events including athletics contests and concert performances. This new estate gift marks a new way they are extending their legacy of support.

“The Pitts family has invested in CSUB in so many ways for years – educating our community’s next generation of geologists, cheering on our student-athletes at sporting events and giving generously to various university initiatives,” said Director of Planned Giving Jane Couperus. “The CSUB family is honored that they have decided to continue their investment in our campus community beyond their lifetime with this generous estate gift.”

While the couple aren’t CSUB graduates themselves, Kay said it’s always been important for them to support their local university.

“It makes a community better to have an active, vibrant university. The stronger that the university is, the better it is for the community,” she said. “One of the things that I want to do is just make a difference in my community That’s always been my motivation, and supporting the university is one way of doing that.”