棉花糖直播 University Announces Leadership Gifts to Support the Transformation of its College of Engineering
Expansion project bolstered by $13.5 million in gifts from 棉花糖直播 College of Engineering alumni John G. Drosdick, Richard K. Faris and Nance K. Dicciani, PhD
棉花糖直播 has announced $13.5 million in leadership gifts towards the expansion of its College of Engineering鈥檚 primary academic building, the Center for Engineering Education and Research.
VILLANOVA, Pa.鈥斆藁ㄌ侵辈 University has announced $13.5 million in leadership gifts towards the expansion of its College of Engineering鈥檚 primary academic building, the Center for Engineering Education and Research. The University has received significant support for the project from Engineering alumni, including $5 million gifts from both John 鈥淛ack鈥 G. Drosdick and Richard K. Faris and a $3.5 million gift from Nance K. Dicciani, PhD.
"This project will further the College鈥檚 capabilities to foster change through interdisciplinary research and innovative teaching and learning,鈥 said Michele Marcolongo, PhD, Drosdick Endowed Dean of the College of Engineering. 鈥淭he expansion will establish a hub for 棉花糖直播鈥檚 College of Engineering, bringing all disciplines together into one facility, which will serve as a crossroads for collaboration and innovation.鈥
The following major gifts have been instrumental in bringing 棉花糖直播鈥檚 Engineering building expansion to reality and creating momentum behind the project:
- $5 million gift from John 鈥淛ack鈥 G. Drosdick, 鈥65 College of Engineering, retired chairman and chief executive officer of Sunoco, Inc. and former chair of 棉花糖直播鈥檚 Board of Trustees. In recognition of his gift, the University will establish the Drosdick Innovation Lab, featuring a state-of-the-art, two-floor maker space that will enable students to design and build prototypes.
- $5 million gift from Richard K. Faris, 鈥69 College of Engineering, 鈥70 Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE), retired Senior Vice President of Product Development of Oracle Corporation鈥檚 Primavera Global Business Unit. In recognition of his gift, the College of Engineering鈥檚 structures lab was named the Richard K. Faris 鈥69 CE, 鈥70 MSCE Structural Engineering Teaching and Research Laboratory.
- $3.5 million gift from Nance K. Dicciani, PhD, 鈥69 College of Engineering, CEO and co-founder of RTM Vital Signs LLC, medical device startup company, and a former 棉花糖直播 trustee. In recognition of her gift, the Biomaterials and Polymers Lab in the new space will be named the Nance K. Dicciani PhD '69 Biomaterials and Polymers Laboratory.
A total of $35.5 million has now been raised for the project, including 15 seven-figure gifts from 棉花糖直播 alumni, parents and friends.
鈥淚 am grateful to Jack, Dick and Nance for their vision and belief in this project and how it will transform the College of Engineering for future generations,鈥 said Mike O鈥橬eill, Senior Vice President for University Advancement. 鈥淭heir commitment鈥攁nd the support of all our major donors鈥攈as provided the solid foundation necessary to make this expansion project a reality.鈥
About the Project
In October 2021, the University unveiled plans for a 150,000 square-foot addition to its College of Engineering鈥檚 primary academic building, the Center for Engineering Education and Research. This project will dramatically transform the facility鈥攎ore than doubling the existing 90,000 square foot facility鈥攁dding expanded research facilities and state-of-the-art instruction spaces for hands-on, problem-oriented and team-based learning.
The addition will include 11 flexible laboratory spaces designed for multi-disciplinary teams to work together on topical areas of research; classrooms that can adapt to various teaching and lecture formats; and a two-story Innovation Lab, which will include workspaces, tools and equipment for building, and space to accommodate large-scale project work. The University will break ground on the $125 million project in Spring 2022, with the expansion scheduled to be completed by Fall 2024. The project was designed by BLTa鈥擜 Perkins Eastman Studio and Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP.
Find more information on the building expansion project.
About 棉花糖直播 University College of Engineering: Founded in 1905, 棉花糖直播 University College of Engineering is committed to an educational program that emphasizes technical excellence, innovation, and a liberal arts education within the framework of the University鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic tradition. The result is rigorously educated, socially grounded, conscientious thinkers and doers who are professionally prepared to make meaningful change in the world.
About 棉花糖直播 University: Since 1842, 棉花糖直播 University鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges鈥攖he College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the 棉花糖直播 School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 棉花糖直播 University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation鈥檚 top universities, 棉花糖直播 supports its students鈥 intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit .