Making an Enduring Impact

The Graduate School has received a $1.75 million gift — among the largest in school history — from an anonymous donor.

The gift will ultimately support hundreds of graduate students at Carolina, with a preference to those who enhance the overall diversity of the Graduate School’s student body across STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Suzanne Barbour, dean of The Graduate School, said this gift will have an enduring impact on graduate students at Carolina and will provide opportunities to enhance diversity across many areas: “The donor’s gift will do more than just support individual students — it will support an educational and research culture that promotes innovation, creativity and success,.

The donor, a UNC-Chapel Hill alum who was the first in their extended family to attend a four-year college, hopes this gift will encourage others to support graduate education. “If we expect someone in the scientific fields to succeed in graduate school, we need to ensure they can focus on their studies and not wind up in more debt,” they said.

The donor encouraged others to give if they are able, especially to graduate education, which has a far-reaching and significant impact at the University and for North Carolinians.

“Do the most good for the most people,” said the donor. “Whatever you think deserves your support — do it.”

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