Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) entered a new chapter in its history this week with an official ceremony marking the largest gift in the university’s history: a transformational $6 million anonymous donation to name the Marion Turpan College of Psychology and Counseling.
The ceremony, held in the lobby of Dickinson Hall on the Metropolitan Campus, celebrated the life of the late Marion Turpan (BS’63, MA’65), a two-time alumna and educator whose family legacy has become synonymous with philanthropy at FDU.
FDU President Michael Avaltroni addressed a crowd of faculty, students, and alumni, emphasizing that the record-breaking gift is more than a financial milestone—it is a strategic investment in the future of mental health care.
“This extraordinary commitment reflects a deep belief in our students, our faculty, and the future of this college,” Avaltroni said. “It is an investment not only in education, but in the future care and strength of our communities.”
The funds are earmarked for several key areas:
- Student Support: Expanded scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students.
- Academic Growth: Strengthening specialized academic programs and faculty resources.
- Mental Health Services: Expanding community-facing mental health education and clinical services.
Alumnus Bryan Dunst (MBA’04), speaking on behalf of the anonymous donor, noted that the gift honors Turpan’s lifelong belief in education as a pathway to opportunity. Dunst recalled Turpan’s early acts of generosity, including a symbolic gift of cherry trees to the campus years ago, which set the stage for this landmark donation.
“This is about creating access, expanding opportunity, and ensuring students have the resources they need to make an impact,” Dunst said. “It honors the past, invests in the present, and prepares for the future.”
The ceremony offered a first look at the Marion Turpan Innovation and Humanics Hub, a state-of-the-art interdisciplinary facility slated to open in 2027. The hub is designed as a collaborative space where psychology, counseling, and nursing students can work together, blending technical advanced skills with a focus on empathy and human connection.
“This is where innovation meets empathy,” said Benjamin Freer, Dean of the Marion Turpan College. “We are preparing students not just to keep up with change, but to lead it.”
The tangible benefits of the endowment were highlighted by graduate student Shalom Jaffe, who shared how increased funding allowed him to participate in a national conference that eventually led to a research collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley.
“What might seem like a small opportunity can have a tremendous impact,” Jaffe told the audience. “This support allows us to go deeper in our work, ask better questions, and pursue ideas that can truly improve people’s lives.”
This historic $6 million contribution builds upon a previous $1 million gift that established the Dennis Turpan Research and Development Lab, named in honor of Marion’s son and fellow FDU alumnus. Together, these investments solidify FDU as a leading institution for the study of psychology and the advancement of the human experience in a technologically driven world.
