FDU NOW Offers a View
of FDU Tomorrow
continued

Greg Olsen, campaign chair

THE ENDOWMENT
The endowment is FDU’s invested capital that generates funds to provide support, in perpetuity, for the University. Col. Fairleigh S. Dickinson’s gift to the institution during its formative years provided the University’s original endowment. Those funds continue to support the University today.

“Endowed gifts provide support for the University in perpetuity,” said Reiss. “Today’s FDU students,” he added, “are benefiting from the endowed gifts of previous generations. Tomorrow’s FDU is being created by donors who are making endowment gifts today.”

FDU NOW, The Campaign for Fairleigh Dickinson University, will provide endowed funds for new scholarships, programs and athletics, as well as the creation of endowed chairs, research fellowships and professorships.

“Endowment support for these key areas will propel the University forward and provide extraordinary opportunities for learning,” said Reiss.

FDU junior Sabrina Robinson knows firsthand the value of endowment funds for scholarships. The current recipient of the Dennis McAdam Endowed Memorial Scholarship, she said, “My scholarship is inspiring me to reach beyond myself and stretch my abilities. I’m on a new path of self-discovery. Receiving the scholarship has given me renewed confidence.”

The McAdam Scholarship, like other endowed scholarships, continues to provide awards for students each and every year. “I am very fortunate to be a scholarship recipient,” said Robinson. “It’s gratifying to know that those who came before me cared enough to create these wonderful opportunities.”

The strength of FDU resides in its faculty. FDU NOW will provide endowment funds enabling the University to continue to attract and retain the best faculty scholars and researchers through the creation of endowed chairs and professorships.

“Endowed chairs will greatly benefit the University,” said University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Willard Gingerich. “Professors named to a chair,” he said, “will garner recognition within FDU and in the wider academic community. In addition, the creation of endowed chairs will enable the University to keep outstanding faculty in the face of stiff competition from other academic institutions. Academic endowments will invigorate our programs by inspiring and motivating faculty to achieve professional goals and create new initiatives that distinguish the University.”

Endowment funds provided by FDU NOW will support programs that benefit student learning; programs like the Lee Gildart and Oswald Haase School of Computer Sciences and Engineering’s Technical Enrichment and Outreach Program (TEOP). The program promotes math and science skills to students at underrepresented high schools and was recently endowed by campaign chair Greg Olsen. “I can never repay what my FDU faculty mentors gave me, but I can pass along their gift — the opportunity to succeed,” he said.

Alfredo Tan, director of the school, said, “Support for TEOP has enabled us to expand our outreach efforts to students who have had few opportunities to develop skills in math, science, engineering and technology. We are showing more students that these skill-sets can provide them with viable options for their future.”

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For a print copy of FDU Magazine, featuring this and other stories, contact Rebecca Maxon, editor,
201-692-7024 or maxon@fdu.edu.