Michigan State University’s College of Arts & Letters (CAL) has exceeded its Empower Extraordinary Capital Campaign goal of $10M, as reported by University Advancement.
Officially announced in October 2014, the Michigan State University $1.5B Empower Extraordinary Capital Campaign will enable MSU to significantly increase its endowment and make substantial new strategic investments on campus and around the world.
“This early success was made possible by our generous donors. It offers us a tremendous opportunity to strengthen a culture of philanthropy that will move the College from a position of national prominence to one of international leadership. As a result, we have doubled our goal to $20M for the final phase of the campaign through 2018,” said College of Arts & Letters Dean Christopher P. Long.
At the heart of this new campaign goal is an investment in people because attracting, retaining and cultivating talent will enable us to elevate the education we provide to the next generation of engaged and conscientious citizen leaders.
CHRISTOPHER P. LONG
“It is always an honor and a great pleasure to work with our alumni, friends and donors,” said Director of Development Bridget Paff. “I cannot thank them enough for their generosity in supporting the arts and humanities.”
Paff said several major gifts have been made that were instrumental in the College reaching its goal. They include:
- Henry O. Timnick gifted $2 million to endow the Timnick Chair in the Humanities
- William and Audrey Farber gifted $1.5 million to endow the William and Audrey Farber Family Chair in Holocaust Studies and European Jewish History
- Michael and Elaine Serling gifted $500,000 toward the endowment for the Chair in Holocaust Studies and European Jewish History
- Sam Austin, University Distinguished Professor, and his wife Mary Austin, gifted $300,000 as lead donors among a group of retired faculty who contributed $750,000 to the construction of a new campus home for MSU’s Summer Circle Theatre
The College strategic planning process has identified three core fundraising priorities that will enable it to reach its new campaign goal: endowed faculty positions, graduate fellowships, and an innovative new Citizen Scholars program to enrich the undergraduate experience.
“At the heart of this new campaign goal is an investment in people,” said Dean Long, “because attracting, retaining and cultivating talent will enable us to elevate the education we provide to the next generation of engaged and conscientious citizen leaders.”
Learn more about the 2015 College of Arts & Letters Strategic Plan visit http://go.cal.msu.edu/15plan
