When the University’s “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence” fundraising campaign began in 2016, we set ambitious goals that would make a Smeal education more accessible and create transformative opportunities for future business leaders.
The campaign concluded on June 30, 2022, and I am delighted to share that the Penn State Smeal College of Business raised a record-setting $116.3 million.
Two years ago, in the midst of the pandemic, we celebrated the most successful single fundraising year in Smeal’s history, with $32.6 million raised. In fiscal year 2022, the bar was set even higher with a record of $34.2 million.
I am so grateful for the steadfast commitment of our alumni and friends throughout the “Greater Penn State” campaign. Altogether, more than 8,000 alumni, friends, corporate partners, and others stepped forward to support the three key imperatives of a 21st-century public university — opening the doors of higher education to learners from every background, creating transformative experiences for students and faculty, and impacting the world by serving communities and fueling discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Charles H. Whiteman, John and Karen Arnold Dean
Among the campaign’s highlights: more than $50 million was pledged to create student scholarships; there were commitments for 10 new named faculty endowments; new centers, including the Tarriff Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility, were created; and a gift which endowed the Borrelli Institute for Real Estate Studies.
Private philanthropy is fueling the opportunities Smeal is able to offer its students — from in-class learning to cocurricular experiences that truly set our students apart in a highly competitive world. I can say with confidence that Smeal is a much stronger business school today than it was six years ago, and our graduates are better prepared to go forth to change the world.
In this issue of Smeal Magazine, I am pleased to share the details of Smeal’s success in the “Greater Penn State” campaign with you.
The impact has been far-reaching. Already, hundreds of Smeal students have received scholarship support, our faculty is better positioned to conduct groundbreaking research, and new programs and services are changing business education for the better.
I believe philanthropy will continue to push business education to new heights, and I look forward to seeing where it will take us.
