FDU Celebrates Historic $6 Million Gift with Naming of Marion Turpan College of Psychology and Counseling

At the Marion Turpan College of Psychology and Counseling naming ceremony are, from left, graduate student Shalom Jaffe, alumnus Bryan Dunst, FDU President Michael Avaltroni, Turpan College Dean Benjamin Freer and University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Benjamin Rifkin.

April 21, 2026 — Fairleigh Dickinson University marked a historic milestone with the official naming ceremony of the Marion Turpan College of Psychology and Counseling, made possible through a transformational $6 million gift from an anonymous donor, the largest in the University’s history.

Held in the lobby of Dickinson Hall on the Metropolitan Campus, the ceremony brought together University leadership, faculty, students, alumni and supporters to celebrate a moment that President Michael Avaltroni described as “not just a naming, but a celebration of legacy and a vision for the future.”

“This extraordinary commitment reflects a deep belief in our students, our faculty and the future of this college,” said Avaltroni. “It is an investment not only in education, but in the future care and strength of our communities.”

The college is named in honor of the late Marion Turpan BS’63, MA’65 (Metro), an alumna, educator and lifelong learner whose belief in education as a pathway to opportunity shaped a lasting family legacy of giving back to FDU. This landmark investment will support scholarships and fellowships, strengthen academic programs, enhance faculty resources and expand mental health education and services.

A commemorative plaque honoring Marion Turpan, FDU alumna.

Speaking on behalf of the anonymous donor, FDU alumnus Bryan Dunst, MBA’04 (Metro), a member of FDU’s Silberman College board of advisors, emphasized that the gift is rooted in purpose.

“This is about creating access, expanding opportunity and ensuring students have the resources they need to make an impact,” he said. “It honors the past, invests in the present and prepares for the future.”

Dunst also reflected on Turpan’s enduring influence, noting that her early acts of generosity, including a symbolic gift of cherry trees to the campus in honor of her mother, Lucille Najar, helped establish a tradition of philanthropy that continues to shape the University today.

The ceremony also highlighted the future Marion Turpan Innovation and Humanics Hub, a state-of-the-art interdisciplinary space currently in development and expected to open in 2027. Concept renderings displayed throughout the event offered a preview of a collaborative environment where psychology, counseling, nursing and related disciplines will intersect while focusing on human connections in a world filled with technological advances.

“This is where innovation meets empathy,” said Benjamin Freer, the dean of the Marion Turpan College of Psychology and Counseling. “We are preparing students not just to keep up with change, but to lead it, equipped with both advanced technical skills and a deep understanding of the human experience.”

Freer also pointed to emerging technologies that will shape the student experience, including tools designed to better understand emotional responses and enhance real-world training.

Graduate student Shalom Jaffe shared a personal story illustrating how increased funding enabled him to extend his participation at a national conference, an experience that ultimately reshaped his research direction and opened doors to new collaborations, including a presentation for the University of California, Berkeley.

“What might seem like a small opportunity can have a tremendous impact,” Jaffe said. “This support allows us to go deeper in our work, ask better questions and pursue ideas that can truly improve people’s lives.”

He noted that similar opportunities are being realized across the student body, empowering undergraduate and graduate students alike to conduct research, present nationally and build connections that advance their careers and the field of mental health.

The ceremony concluded with an invitation for guests to engage directly with students and explore interactive demonstrations showcasing the future of psychology and counseling education at FDU.

“What we celebrate today is a commitment to our students, to innovation, and to the future of human connection,” said Avaltroni in closing. “This is a great day for Fairleigh Dickinson University.”

This gift builds on an earlier $1 million gift, which established the Dennis Turpan Research and Development Lab for Cutting-edge Technologies and Disciplines and also provided support for the College of Psychology and Counseling in honor of Marion Turpan. Dennis Turpan, BS’71 (Metro), was Marion’s son and a fellow FDU alumnus.