When arts patron and friend of the University Lee Steinberg made her generous bequest to Adelphi, it not only strengthened the future of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Performing Arts Center—it shone a spotlight on the vibrancy of the arts at Adelphi.

“Lee Steinberg’s legacy gift reflects a deep belief in the transformative power of the arts,â€� said Thomas Kline, EdD, vice president of University advancement and external relations. “Her generosity strengthens not only our facilities, but the student experiences and creative opportunities that define ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s performing arts community.â€�

The $1.77 million gift supports immediate physical improvements at the Center as well as permanent, flexible funding for its ongoing capital, programming and operational needs. In recognition of her extraordinary generosity, the University has named the center’s Recital Hall in her honor—the Lee Steinberg Recital Hall.

The hall is one of the five state-of-the-art venues at the Center, along with the 500-seat Westermann Stage at the Concert Hall, the Olmsted Theatre, the Dance Theatre and the Black Box Theatre.

´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s Rich History in Theatre

´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s theatre, dance and music programs have produced generations of artists, none more illustrious than Jonathan Larson ’82, the late Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and composer of the iconic Broadway musical Rent. Larson majored in acting at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­and began composing music for small student productions and cabarets, often writing about topics like AIDS, addiction and homophobia, which would later inform his renowned works.

“He came in like a spark plug,â€� said Nicholas Petron, MA ’70, retired professor and chair of the Department of Theatre. “My first impression was: ’Who is this guy?’ He was a firecracker.â€�

Larson’s legacy lives on at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­through the $2 million Jonathan Larson Scholarship endowment, established by a bequest from the Larson Family Trust and a matching grant from the University. The endowment supports four annual scholarships for theatre students.

In 2015, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­also launched the annual Larson Legacy Concert Series at Center to celebrate the next generation of musical theatre creators. It has featured performances by recipients of Jonathan Larson Grants from the American Theatre Wing and artists who’ve gone on to Broadway stardom, like Michael R. Jackson, who won a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award in 2021 for A Strange Loop.

Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­also hosts The Poole Family Broadway Series, generously sponsored by Mary Jane ’62 and Thomas Poole, which brings Broadway legends, cabaret stars and musical theater revues to the center.

Empowering the Next Generation of Excellence in Music and Dance

Theater isn’t alone at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­as a pacesetter for university arts departments. The University’s dance department became one of the first established at a college in the United States when it was founded in 1938 by one of the leading lights of modern dance, Ruth St. Denis. Since then, it has been home to many prominent faculty members, including , Paul Taylor, Norman Walker, Carmen de Lavallade, Jack Cole and Hanya Holm.

In the music department, Pulitzer Prize-winning and Grammy-nominated composer , has been a professor since the early 2000s, nurturing new generations of musical talent while continuing to produce critically acclaimed oratorios. He was honored as one of only five University Professors at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­in 2004.

“One of the great things about Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­is that it supports its faculty in its research—in my case, its creativity,â€� Dr. Moravec said. “I’m eternally indebted to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­for facilitating all of the work that I’ve done in the 25 years that I’ve been here at Adelphi.â€�

A Donor’s Lifelong Commitment to the Arts in New York

Lee Steinberg’s gift, which was received from her estate in July 2025, reflected her wish to support arts programming and performance centers on Long Island as well as her lifetime commitment to cultural institutions throughout the greater New York region. Steinberg, who briefly served on ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s Performing Arts Council, died in 2021 at the age of 106 and was posthumously added as a member of ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s Million Dollar Roundtable, which recognizes our most generous donors, whose cumulative giving exceeds $1 million.

In accordance with Steinberg’s intent, the University has established two funds to support the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Performing Arts Center—the Lee Steinberg Performing Arts Center Capital Fund, for immediate physical improvements, and the Lee Steinberg Performing Arts Center Excellence Endowed Fund, to provide permanent, flexible support for the center’s ongoing capital, programming and operational needs. This generous gift reinforces ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s reputation as a preeminent leader in arts education and performance in our region.

Enhancements to Center will elevate the experience of student performers, faculty directors, guest artists and audience members. Several capital improvements have already been funded through an initial $500,000 allocation, including:

• A comprehensive refresh of the Olmsted Theatre, featuring new lighting, audience seating, carpeting, acoustic panels and painting, as well as the installation of a new digital sound mixing console
• Brighter lighting in the Center’s second-floor dance studios
• New house lights and work lights in the Concert Hall

Beginning in 2027, annual distributions from the endowment will ensure that the spotlight never fades—empowering generations of future artists to push creative boundaries and inspire the world from ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s stages.

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It is a reflection of his own multicultural, multidenominational family’s passion for philanthropy and community—and their deep, foundational belief that there is but one family of man.

A Multicultural Family Legacy

“I could tell you from being in healthcare my entire life, that we’re all the same. The more we could bring people together from different religions, cultures, and disciplines to show we are all exactly the same, the better the world will be,â€� Achan insisted. “It’s meaningful, peaceful, and it can heal a lot.”

Achan is proud that his wife, pediatric speech pathologist Kimberly Mayo-Achan and children Lenny III and Katherine, agreed to establish the Center. In fact, they collectively signed their generous donation letter.

He hopes that by representing his family’s own diverse cultural legacy, the Achan Family Interfaith Center “speaks to the generations before me and hopefully to the generations after me.�

A First Generation Student from the Inner City

For Achan, a son of immigrant parents and a self-described inner city youth from Queens, college was an aspiration, rather than an expectation. “Opening that acceptance letter from Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­was like a spark of light,â€� he recalled. “I never thought I might go to college—and Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­became a beacon for me.â€�

Enrolling in the College of Nursing and Public Health gave Achan his first glimpse of how he might achieve his dream of helping people in need.

After graduating, he continued his education by earning a master’s degree in advanced practice nursing and a business degree, as well.. His leadership in health care has been recognized with awards from Crain’s New York Business and Healthcare Leaders of New York.

Today, the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ board of trustees’ secretary is president and CEO of , a nonprofit organ procurement organization, as well as the founding chairman of a digital health organization. He is also a generous benefactor to his alma mater.

An Interfaith Center for All

With their significant gift, Achan Family Interfaith Center shines as a beacon of light for the entire Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­community.

“This donation is going to allow students to have deeper, more meaningful experiences with one another,â€� promised Michael Hoffner, coordinator of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­â€™s Mindfulness Center and Leonard Achan Family Interfaith Center.

According to Hoffner, the Center will enable students to attend retreats, and bring programs to campus that will connect them with their spiritual, faith and religious traditions—while fostering the sense of belonging and purpose that is at the heart of the college experience.

Gifts Honoring His Father, and His Grandmother, a Holocaust Survivor of Auschwitz

Supporting the campus Interfaith Center is not the Achan family’s first major gift. In 2017, the memory of Achan’s father, Leonard Achan, Sr., was honored by a .

In 2024, a second gift from Achan and his wife endowed a scholarship for future mental health counselors studying at the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology. The scholarship memorialize Kimberly Mayo-Achan’s grandmother, Zosia ‘GiGi’ Levine, a Jewish survivor of Auschwitz during the Holocaust, who went on to live a long, fulfilling life as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

When the family considered how they might address a deepening and challenging mental health crisis and shortage of mental health professionals, they were inspired by Gigi. Achan has described how “My family exists because she survived. Helping others create a legacy was the thought behind how we could be supportive.

“Helping even one person makes a difference.â€�

Fulfilling Dreams for Future Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­Students

According to Achan his role as an Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­trustee gives him a unique perspective. By remembering his own experience and dreams as a first-generation student, he recognizes how seemingly impossible student dreams will be fulfilled because of the foundation Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­provides. And he has committed himself to doing everything he can to help them realize their dreams.

“I feel blessed to give back to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­and blessed to have a career in helping people,â€� he admitted. “Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­gave me a platform and opportunity that is the foundation of everything I do today in my community and with my family.â€�

He uses this platform as a trustee, to champion the goals of ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s strategic plan. By establishing the Achan Family Interfaith Center, he has directly supported the university’s commitment to its inclusive community.

This is, for him—and his family—the right time to create the Center. “When you look at our faculty and students and alumni, when you look at the contributions we are making to society and the world, it’s a moment to scale impact.�

Achan believes that as a place for the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­community to embrace differences, discover commonality, and celebrate and explore individual faith and purpose, the Leonard Achan Family Interfaith Center is doing just that.

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It was just four years ago, in the spring of 2022, when ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s annual Giving Day first reached $500,000 in donations. Two years later, it set a new record of $684,000. Another big jump last year raised the bar to $886,000.

But nothing compares to the totals set this spring, when donations rocketed to $2.28 million, including $1.07 million in outright commitments and $1.2 million in planned gifts. The generosity was spread across the University, as every academic unit and key campaign reached or exceeded its individual fundraising target.

“With 1,580 donors and 1,626 gifts, our community demonstrated the true impact of investing in the University we believe in,â€� said Thomas Kline, EdD, ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s vice president of University advancement and external relations. “This remarkable generosity is a powerful testament to the transformative potential of our Momentum Campaign: Extraordinary Impact. We are filled with deep gratitude and hope for the future of Adelphi.â€�

1,896 Minutes—and Reasons—to Give

As it has since ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s 125th anniversary, Giving Day has lasted a few more than 24 hours, extending to 1,896 minutes to reflect ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s founding in 1896.

While the timing has changed, Giving Day at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­has continued to benefit programs and causes across the University. Donations are made to each of the University’s colleges and schools, athletic programs, the Bridges to Adelphi program for students on the autism spectrum, and causes including the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­Fund, Performing Arts Center, Innovation Center, SPARK Center for undergraduate research, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program, and Panthers Pay It Forward Campaign.

A new challenge was added to Giving Day this year as well—planned giving. Thirteen people, including four anonymous donors, met the challenge and committed a total of $1.2 million dollars. The University is proud to recognize all 13 donors as members of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­Forever Gold Society.

There are many other highlights of this year’s giving.

The Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Honors College received a $45,000 gift from alumni Carole ’64 and Neal ’63 Stuber, and the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business led the University’s eight schools and colleges, raising $67,335, with generous matching gifts from its Dean’s Advisory Board, Trustee Kevin Mahony ’83 and an anonymous donor. , always supported by Panther fans, raised $268,504, including $52,775 for men’s soccer and $45,630 for the men’s golf program.

Every current member of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Board of Trustees participated, reflecting their ongoing commitment to ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s mission. Close to 1,600 donors in all showed their support for Adelphi, including alumni, students and their families, faculty, administrators, staff, and friends of the University. The funds raised will continue advancing ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s 130-year-old mission to transform student lives through exceptional hands-on learning, extraordinary student experiences, accessible scholarships and academic resources.

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“With 1,578 donors and 1,613 gifts, our community demonstrated the true impact of investing in the University we believe in,â€� said Thomas Kline, EdD, ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s vice president of University advancement and external relations. “This remarkable generosity is a powerful testament to the transformative potential of our Momentum Campaign: Extraordinary Impact. We are filled with deep gratitude and hope for the future of Adelphi.â€�

The Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Honors College received a $45,000 gift from alumni Carole ’64 and Neal ’63 Stuber, and the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business led the University’s eight schools and colleges, raising $67,335, with generous matching gifts from its Dean’s Advisory Board, Trustee Kevin Mahony ’83 and an anonymous donor. , always supported by Panther fans, raised $250,934, led by men’s golf.

Rooted in ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s founding year, “1,896 Minutes to Giveâ€� is a call to action for the University’s alumni, students, faculty, administrators and friends to support the meaningful causes that strengthen every aspect of the institution. Every current member of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Board of Trustees participated, reflecting their ongoing commitment to ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s mission. And the University’s first-ever planned giving challenge inspired 13 people, including four anonymous donors, to make new or increased commitments totaling $1.2 million.

The funds raised will continue advancing ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s 130-year-old mission to transform student lives through exceptional hands-on learning, extraordinary student experiences, accessible scholarships and academic resources, and . Additionally, funding sustains meaningful community programs like Bridges to Adelphi and the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program.

Learn more about .

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The scholarship, awarded by the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­College of Professional and Continuing Studies (CPCS), strives to provide support for adult students of any kind. Sandra Castro, PhD, senior associate dean of CPCS, highlights the variety of students the scholarship helps. “We have a whole generation of students that are caring for siblings, parents, relatives. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­says ‘We see you’ and we want to support you in making your academic career,â€� she said.

The Caring for Caregivers scholarship has recently expanded from students in CPCS to any student at Adelphi. “I was floored by how many applications we received,� said Dr. Castro. The growing number of applicants highlights the importance of providing assistance to students who are parents or caregivers at Adelphi, and how impactful more family-friendly policies could be on campus.

Meet the Awardees

Haley Friday, one of this year’s recipients of the scholarship, returned to school to study after taking a semester off to care for her grandmother. Speaking about CPCS and the asynchronous learning it offers, she said, “It gave me the flexibility to continue school while still managing my everyday life and caregiving responsibilities, which meant a lot to me.� For students like Friday, the scholarship not only recognizes her, but provides some much-needed relief from juggling school and caregiving. “It has also helped me cover out-of-pocket school expenses, which gave me some financial breathing room and even allowed me to do something nice for myself for the first time in a long time. That means more than people probably realize.�

Fellow scholarship winner Jquan Collins said of his role as a caregiver, “I take pride in being dependable. To me, being a caregiver is not just about big moments, but also about the everyday effort, patience and responsibility that comes with putting others first.â€� Collins, who is studying business administration, said the motivation to attend Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­came from a desire to open doors both professionally and personally. Becoming a father strengthened that motivation. “I want to set an example of hard work, discipline and perseverance for my children,â€� he said.

For Rachel Freeman, who works full time while caring for her three-year-old, going back to school was important to her in order to challenge her and help her in her career path. She said, “Going back to school felt like the right way to push myself and get out of my comfort zone.� For Freeman, who is studying , being chosen was incredible news. Even simply hearing about the scholarship made an impact on her. “I was relieved that at the university level there was some formal recognition that working, going to school and being a parent was hard!� she said. “It sounds obvious—of course it’s difficult—but I was encouraged by this simple statement of support, and decided to apply for the scholarship.�

The Impact of the Scholarship

Across the board, the scholarship winners shared a similar sentiment: The recognition of being chosen, and the acknowledgement of how difficult balancing school and taking care of loved ones can be, made a serious impact. “This scholarship means a lot to me because it recognizes not only my academic efforts, but also the responsibilities I carry outside of school,� said Collins. “It serves as motivation to keep pushing forward, even when balancing work, school and family life feels overwhelming.�

This scholarship is made possible by the Women’s Giving Circle, a group whose collective philanthropy celebrates, promotes and supports Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­and its students, faculty and programs. “They’ve supported us the last four years in the different iterations of the scholarship,â€� said Dr. Castro. The Women’s Giving Circle, funded by member donations, is run by a team of volunteers who work to make it possible to provide financial aid to students. It’s through their continued support that students like Friday can keep taking care of the ones they love.

“This scholarship not only supports my education, but it also supports the work and care I give to the people who depend on me every day!�

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As a liberal arts student, Jordan developed the analytical discipline and critical thinking skills that prepared him for law school and a successful legal career that spanned decades, including 35 years in the healthcare industry. He retired in 2009 and has always credited Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­with providing the foundation for his success.

Mark W. Jordan ’63 shares a quiet moment with his granddaughter, reflecting the family values and future generations his philanthropy at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­helps support.

Establishing a Scholarship for Honors College Students

In 2013, Jordan established the Mark W. Jordan Scholarship to support Honors College students with strong academic promise and demonstrated financial need. His goal was simple: to help students experience the same transformative opportunity he received—an Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­education supported by scholarship assistance that allows them to focus on learning, growth, and possibility.

Reflecting on his commitment, Jordan said, “The education I received at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­shaped my career, my path, and my leadership. Giving back each year is one way I can help ensure students today have that same foundation for opportunity.â€�

Growing Impact Through the Momentum 2 Endowment Match Campaign

Jordan deepened that commitment in 2022 when he became the first donor to participate in ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s Momentum 2 Endowment Match Campaign. With a $25,000 pledge to grow his scholarship, his gift was matched by the University—immediately doubling its long-term impact for students. His early participation helped set the stage for more to follow.

As part of the University’s Momentum Campaign: Extraordinary Impact, the endowment match initiative has helped expand scholarship support and strengthen ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s long-term investment in student success. By the end of the campaign’s third year in 2025, it had generated $6.4 million, created 56 new endowed funds, and strengthened 38 existing ones.

Today, Jordan remains deeply engaged as a lifelong learner and educator, delivering lectures on subjects as varied as Shakespeare, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Sir Ernest Shackleton and the Mutiny on the Bounty at institutions including the University of California, Berkeley; Santa Clara University; the University of South Carolina; and California State University, East Bay, as well as the Walnut Creek Library Foundation, which he and his wife, Cindy, also support. They spend much of their free time traveling and have visited all seven continents.

Leadership Giving

Because his giving reflects the many ways philanthropy can take shape in support of ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s mission, Jordan is recognized in all four of ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s Leadership Recognition and Giving Societies (LEAD):

• the Levermore Leadership Society, recognizing annual giving of $1,000 or more,
• our Eighteen-Ninety-Six Roundtable Society, honoring lifetime giving totaling $100,000 or more,
• ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s Forever Gold Society, thanking alumni and friends whose estate plans or planned gifts include the University,
• and the Dedicated Panther Society, celebrating donors who give every year.

Across his endowed scholarship, annual giving, and planned gift, Jordan’s generosity will advance the priorities that shape our University’s future: scholarships, academic excellence, life-changing student experiences, a modern and beautiful campus, and a diverse and vibrant community. His story reflects the powerful cycle of philanthropy—students supported by Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­who later return to create opportunity for those who follow.

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In recognition of her extraordinary generosity, the University has named the Center’s recital hall in her honor—the Lee Steinberg Recital Hall.

“Lee Steinberg’s legacy gift reflects a deep belief in the transformative power of the arts,â€� said Tom Kline, EdD, vice president of University advancement and external relations. “Her generosity strengthens not only our facilities, but the student experiences and creative opportunities that define ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s performing arts community.â€�

“The Lee Steinberg Recital Hall honors Lee’s commitment to a legacy of inspiring student performers and audiences for generations,â€� said Blyth Daylong, executive director of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­â€™s Performing Arts Center.

A Lifelong Commitment to the Arts in New York

The gift, received in July 2025 from Ms. Steinberg’s estate, places her among the members of ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s Million Dollar Roundtable, which recognizes our most generous donors with cumulative giving exceeding $1 million. Steinberg died in 2021 at the age of 106. Through her bequest, she expressed her wish to support arts programming and performance centers on Long Island, continuing a lifetime commitment to cultural institutions throughout the greater New York region.

Planned giving has flourished at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­in recent years. In Fiscal Year 2024–2025, the University’s pipeline of documented future support exceeded $40 million. All levels of leadership giving at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­are shaping the long-term strength of academic programs, student opportunities and institutional excellence.

In accordance with Steinberg’s intent, the University has established two funds to support the Performing Arts Center—the Lee Steinberg Performing Arts Center Capital Fund for immediate physical improvements and the Lee Steinberg Performing Arts Center Excellence Endowed Fund to provide permanent, flexible support for the Center’s ongoing capital, programming and operational needs. This generous gift reinforces Adelphi’s reputation as a preeminent leader in arts education and performance in our region.

Applause for Improved Lighting, Seating, Flooring and Acoustics at ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s Performing Arts Center

Enhancements to the Center will elevate the experience of student performers, faculty directors, guest artists and audience members. Several capital improvements have already been funded through an initial $500,000 allocation, including:

• A comprehensive refresh of the Olmsted Theatre, featuring new lighting, audience seating, carpeting, acoustic panels and painting, as well as the installation of a new digital sound mixing console
• Brighter lighting in the Center’s second-floor dance studios
• New house lights and work lights in the Concert Hall

Beginning in 2027, annual distributions from the endowment will provide sustained support for artistic programming and facility excellence.

Steinberg briefly served on ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s Performing Arts Council and remained committed to supporting the arts throughout her life. Her bequest ensures that generations of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­students will continue to learn, perform and thrive in spaces designed for excellence in the arts.

Advancing The Momentum Campaign: Extraordinary Impact

This seven-figure investment advances ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s Momentum Campaign: Extraordinary Impact, demonstrating how philanthropic leadership translates into visible improvements, strengthened programs and lasting institutional growth. Through leadership gifts like Steinberg’s, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­continues its mission to transform students’ lives and reinforces its role as a cultural anchor on Long Island.

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The Legacy of Bad Company

Recently, Bad Company returned to their old stomping grounds for a walk down memory lane. At the baseball diamond where Bergelt once played varsity, they admired the renovated clubhouse bearing a plaque in his honor and recalled watching games from their Linen Hall windows. They got to catch up with Danny McCabe, director of and the new head baseball coach Mike Gaffney, whose father, Bill, was Bergelt’s teammate in the ’70s.

Stories, laughs and jokes were traded among the friends—one about a “borrowed� bathrobe, another proudly claiming to be “31–1� over their four-year intramural basketball career. They marveled at the changes to campus, like the 76,000-square-foot Center for Recreation and Sports (CRS), which expanded and modernized the amenities of their cherished Woodruff Hall era.

Inside the CRS, Dennis, Neil, Tony and Steve posed by the and a plaque in honor of Bad Company. Made possible in 2018 through a generous gift from McDonagh, the fueling station is an essential stop for ´¡»å±ð±ô±è³ó¾±â€™s 23 varsity teams, providing free recovery shakes and snacks to the student-athletes. Two graduate student-athlete leaders, (men’s basketball) and (volleyball), took a moment to personally thank McDonagh for his support of their success on the court and in the classroom.

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An endowed gift from Georgiana Baker ’69 celebrates her late husband, Bill (framed photo).

With her planned $250,000 gift to Adelphi, she’s making that opportunity a reality for current and future Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­swimmers. The ripple effects of Georgiana’s philanthropy ensure that talented and motivated student-athletes will be supported throughout their college experience.

In 2007, a loyal group of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­alumni known affectionately as “Team Irwin,â€� established the to honor Georgiana’s husband, Bill, the popular coach of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­men’s and women’s varsity swim teams from 1966 to 1978. The launch of this scholarship coincided with Bill’s induction into the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Athletic Hall of Fame, and it is awarded annually to a member of the swim team. The scholarship has benefited 13 students, and donor contributions currently exceed $111,000.

Before Bill died in 2017, he and Georgiana sat down to make decisions about their estate plan. Georgiana suggested a bequest to the University that brought them together and provided them with a lifelong network of friends and community. Supporting the scholarship endowment in Bill’s name was an easy decision for her.

“Bill loved coaching, and he loved swimming, and Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­was such a big part of our lives,â€� Georgiana said. “He made a life around swimming, and I think he would be very pleased about all of this.â€�

A love for the sport provided a shared foundation for the couple. “Bill was a very good swimmer,� Georgiana recalled, noting that he was an Eastern States Champion and was scheduled to compete in Olympic swimming trials. Instead, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where, naturally, he ran a swim program. After that, Bill competed with the New York Athletic Club for years, serving as chairman of swimming, and coached three NCAA All-American swimmers during his tenure at Adelphi.

When Georgiana arrived at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­as an undergraduate, she joined two other trailblazing women comprising the original women’s swim team. Georgiana explained, “What drove me was that I wanted to meet people. And I could swim; I knew I was good at that. I looked for a swim team, which for women didn’t really exist at the time. I wanted to do something outside of going to class. I found people who shared that interest—I found my group!â€� Teammate Sue Tendy ’70, PhD, who became a fast friend, went on to be one of the first women in America to compete in women’s intercollegiate swim meets and was the first women’s swim coach at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Georgiana’s academic passions for math and science intersected with her interests in teaching and learning. After graduation, an education professor encouraged her to teach math and science at West Hempstead (New York) Middle School. Before long, she made a career switch to the international business department of Chase Bank in New York City, where she climbed the corporate ladder from administrative assistant to vice president.

Georgiana leaned into her strengths in STEM and developed an early automation process for the regular reports she was charged with running. She not only taught herself Fortran and other programming languages, but also created a new leadership lane for women in corporate operations. “I worked as a programmer and came up through the ranks, and then I ended up running the department!� she said.

Georgiana was one of four inaugural women vice presidents at Chase, and this intrepid and fearless cohort, now living all over the country, still enjoy regular Zoom sessions to catch up and often travel together, even as far as Africa. Georgiana’s career in financial operations continued to accelerate, and as a vice president at Goldman Sachs, she worked to automate systems and coordinate computer operations on the trading floor.

Georgiana and Bill’s life together brought them from New York to Virginia to South Carolina, and “everywhere he coached, he formed a swim team.� Bill created several master’s swim teams—where postcollegiate swimmers compete within appropriate age brackets—which continue to flourish today. “We competed at the national level several times,� Georgiana recalled, noting that the team environment and camaraderie strengthened the bonds of friendship among members of “Team Irwin.�

Following her career in finance, Georgiana earned a master’s degree in statistics and returned to her first occupation, teaching, but this time at the college level. She taught first at Radford University in Virginia and later, from 1999 to 2013, at the University of South Carolina.

Her generosity toward student-athletes is not surprising, and paying it forward is a natural extension of her own personal and professional success. Now swimming remains a key part of Georgiana’s life in retirement. “I love exercise, and I really believe that you have to use it or lose it. Swimming keeps me moving,� she said.

Thanks to her generosity, the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­swim program continues to make waves, and in 2025 enjoyed its most successful season in 15 years, coming in as runner-up at the NE10 Championship.

With her $250,000 planned estate gift to the William J. Irwin Swimming Scholarship, Georgiana is an inspiration as she honors her husband’s legacy and champions the program that meant so much to their family.

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I am filled with gratitude for the extraordinary generosity you have demonstrated. Together, we broke fundraising record—a bar we’ll challenge ourselves to pass next year!

This year, we surpassed our $100,000 goal by more than double, raising $228,471.38 from 356 donors, who made 403 gifts in support of many vital causes.

Our Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­family of students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents and friends showed such enthusiasm in support of some of . We expanded access to emergency financial assistance, food and basic necessities, scholarships, breast cancer support services and other important resources our students rely on to thrive.

I want to thank Interim President Chris Storm for kicking off GivingTuesday in October with his inspiring challenge to support the Student Emergency Support Fund. That matching challenge was satisfied before GivingTuesday even started!

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