News

Florida Atlantic University officially announced today that it has received its largest gift in school history – a $20 million gift from benefactors Kurt and Marilyn Wallach. This transformational gift will create the Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Institute for Holocaust and Jewish Studies housed in FAU’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters.

Florida Atlantic University moved up in the U.S. News & World Report list of “Top Public Schools,” to No. 136 in this year’s ranking of the nation’s best universities. FAU ranked No. 140 in 2020. “Recognition in the U.S. News & World Report annual list of top universities is an honor and proves that the hard work of the entire FAU community is paying off,” said FAU President John Kelly. “Using our strategic plan as a guide, we continue to build on our successes and focus on key areas of improvement.”

Florida Atlantic University’s Alumni Association (FAUAA) has launched AMPLIFY, a new program that features a series of webinars, spotlights and digital content that will be based upon the national heritage celebration of each month. “As our society begins to have substantive conversations about racial bias and inequity, the Alumni Association saw an opportunity to have an influential impact on facilitating more of these conversations and provide resources for continued education,” said Chandra Roberson, assistant director of engagement for FAU’s Office of Alumni Relations. “FAU was founded on the principle of access to…

Florida Atlantic University’s Foundation Board of Directors welcomed Raul Valero ’10 in the 2021 fiscal year and Paul Pagnato ’86 and Arlene Fine Klepper in the 2020 fiscal year.  The Foundation Board’s executive committee for the 2021 fiscal year are Steve Schmidt as chair; Brian Poulin as vice-chair, treasurer, and finance committee chair; Phyllis Gladstein as secretary; and Stewart Martin ’89 as immediate past chair.

Florida Atlantic University has officially announced a $1.125 million gift from The Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation. The gift will establish the Glenn W. and Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation Marine SEA Scholars Program at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science’s Marine Science Laboratory in the Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex in Boca Raton.

The Florida Atlantic University athletic department has announced an anonymous $2.5 million gift commitment. The gift is earmarked for student-athlete scholarships.

Florida Atlantic University’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters recently announced a $1.125 million gift from FAU benefactor Marleen Forkas to name the Marleen Forkas Studio One Theatre. The theater serves as a production and performance training venue for students, and public events that are held in the theater throughout the year.  This gift significantly expands Mrs. Forkas’ generosity in naming one of the College’s most visible and prominent theater venues that benefits students, faculty, alumni and community patrons now and for generations to come. It will allow for ongoing and significant renovations…

Florida Atlantic University has established the “FAU Cares Emergency Fund” for currently registered, degree-seeking students who are experiencing financial hardship. “More than 65 percent of all FAU students work to put themselves through school,” said FAU President John Kelly. “During these unprecedented times, we want our Owls to know we are here for them.”

The Avron B. Fogelman Sports History Museum, a permanent exhibit featuring artifacts from the former Kansas City Royals owner and longtime Boca Raton resident’s private collection, recently opened in the Schmidt Family Complex for Academic and Athletic Excellence. Part of a donation valued at more than $10 million, the collection is widely considered one of the largest private libraries amassed and owned by an individual.

Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business recently honored Rita and Rick Case of the Rick Case Automotive Group at its 28th annual Business Leaders of the Year breakfast at the Boca Raton Resort & Club.  “Both Rita and Rick are widely recognized as people who are very smart with great business minds, but also have big hearts. They’re an amazing couple in business,” said Daniel Gropper, Ph.D., dean of FAU’s College of Business. “They have also been great supporters of our community, helping in health care, education, housing and particularly youth activities. At FAU’s College of Business, our core mission is…

Florida Atlantic University faculty, staff and students came together with local officials and community partners today to celebrate the 20th anniversary of FAU’s John D. MacArthur Campus at Jupiter with a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new FAU Neuroscience Building and a new residence hall.

Florida Atlantic University officially announced a $1 million gift from Rubin and Cindy Gruber to establish The Rubin and Cindy Gruber Sandbox and to support student scholarships through their endowment. The Rubin and Cindy Gruber Sandbox will house the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science’s Machine Perception and Cognitive Robotics Lab (MPCR) within the S.E. Wimberly Library at FAU’s Boca Raton campus. The gift will support renovating a 3,400-square-foot resource center designed to cater to students from across the University. Students will be able to directly engage with the fast-advancing field of artificial…

Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science received a $750,000 gift from the GANGALS nonprofit Foundation, Inc. (GnF) to name the Lata and Shiva Gangal Global Innovation Hall in the Engineering East building (platinum LEED certified) on FAU’s Boca Raton campus. Last year, the Gangals also established a $500,000 gift for the “Gangal Family Endowed Scholarship Fund” to support talented students as they prepare for professional careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). In addition to these agreed gifts to the FAU Foundation, the Gangals directly award scholarships to…

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation awarded Florida Atlantic University’s Adams Center for Entrepreneurship a two-year, $110,000 grant to expand its Entrepreneur Boot Camp, Business Plan Competition and other activities that will contribute to the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and economic development throughout Palm Beach County. “The Knight Foundation grant enables the FAU Adams Center to expand its educational programs in partnership with both the private and public sectors across all of Palm Beach County,” said Roland Kidwell, director of the Adams Center and chair of the Department of Management…

Florida Atlantic University’s School of Architecture in the College for Design and Social Inquiry was recently gifted a Frank Lloyd Wright collection of artwork, books and other collectibles – totaling 189 items – by Donald and Elaine Singer.  “My wife and I donated our collection to enhance the research and teaching of architecture at Florida Atlantic University,” said Singer. “Our hope is that it enriches the lives of generations of students and faculty to come.”

Florida Atlantic University today announced a $7 million gift from longtime benefactors Phyllis and Harvey Sandler to name The Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work within the College for Design and Social Inquiry.  “I am extremely passionate about improving the well-being of all, especially the lives of the students and faculty at Florida Atlantic University,” said Phyllis Sandler.  The gift also will establish two new Centers within The Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work – the Robin Rubin Mindfulness and Wellness Center and the Substance Misuse, Mental Health and Research Center. A portion of…