President's Blog: From the Heart

By Eric F. Spina

The University of Dayton has been shaped by generations of visionaries — wise men and women with imagination and faith.

I can still hear Jen Howe’s words to faculty and staff at the fall meetings: “What would make us better? What would better differentiate us? What would transform us?” our vice president for advancement asked.

It’s no secret that we are quietly setting the stage for our first comprehensive campaign in more than 15 years. During my inaugural year as president, faculty, staff, students, trustees, Marianists, administrators, and alumni worked together to develop an aspirational vision for a university that is tuned to the needs and opportunities in the world.

Since then, Jen and I have traversed the country to meet with our alumni to share UD’s ambitions and hear their hopes and dreams for their alma mater.

We discussed the impact UD could achieve if we were able to remove the financial barriers for all talented students, develop deeper hands-on learning for every student, and invest in more intellectually curious faculty and innovative programs. To a person, they urged us to elevate our sights, act boldly, and strive to achieve the level of impact our world needs from us.

These were inspiring, empowering conversations that have helped spark the best back-to-back fundraising years in our history. Through the work of Jen, the advancement staff, and the campus community, we have attracted nearly $100 million in private support over the last two years. That’s a feat that humbles me as it reminds me of the power of the UD story and our mission as a Catholic, Marianist university. That’s an achievement that fills me with gratitude for today’s visionaries.

As we elevate our sights, many of our supporters are doing the same. Of the 22 donors who gave more than $1 million during the last two fiscal years, only three had previously given at that level. At the same time, nearly 90 percent of all private support to UD over the last several years came from individual gifts under $1,000 — exemplifying that every gift of any size adds to the value of a UD degree. And every gift gives a boost to the momentum that is carrying our beloved University to a remarkable future — one where we open our doors to every talented student, not just those who can afford it.

Many new voices are investing in our dreams and shaping our narrative for a future of impact. Though I could share dozens of stories, here are a sampling of just a few:

The grateful: Bill Stankey ’80 and his wife, Mary Lalli, made a $1 million commitment to establish the Stankey Family “Pay it Forward” scholarship for socio-economically challenged students, with a preference for first-generation college students.

The innovative: Flyer Funder crowdfunding campaigns attracted nearly $50,000 in 357 gifts for experiential learning initiatives ranging from a program that brought UD students to Silicon Valley for networking with alumni and business leaders to a cultural immersion trip to Standing Rock Indian Reservation. (That’s an average gift size of $140, with a range from $10 to $1,000 — each one making a difference!) 

The loyal: Alumni couple Denise ’77 and Greg Palmer ’78 have committed, through a planned gift, to significantly increase their two existing scholarships in business and law.

The young: Elizabeth Clarke, a 2016 graduate, led a conversation with her family that resulted in a gift to fund an endowed scholarship in campus ministry that honors her grandmother.

As we look to the future, I hear the echo of the visionaries of the past:

Raise your sights. Be courageous. And, above all else, believe in the transformative power of a UD education to change lives — and our world.