The 百媚导航 System has flourished under President Judy Genshaft. Now, she continues her transformational leadership 鈥� this time through a historic gift.
President Genshaft and her husband, Steven Greenbaum, have donated $20 million to the 百媚导航 Foundation. This represents one of the largest gifts of its kind ever made by a sitting university president to their institution. The donation will name the Judy Genshaft Honors College and help fund a new five-story building for the College to be built on the 百媚导航 campus within the next few years. They also announced a $3 million gift to create an endowment for the deanship of the Judy Genshaft Honors College.
鈥淲e are so passionate about this university. It has been such an important part of our life and our family over the last 19 years. It鈥檚 only natural that we would do whatever we can to ensure its continued success,鈥� Genshaft said. 鈥淗aving a world-class Honors College is just one more way 百媚导航 will distinguish itself as one of the most elite and forward-thinking institutions in the world. The Honors College is special because of its inclusiveness, representing the best and brightest students from all academic units across all of our 百媚导航 campuses.鈥�
Genshaft formally established the 百媚导航 Honors College in 2002 and has consistently supported its growth and evolution during her 19-year tenure as president. Hundreds of Honors College students have traveled the world as recipients of the Genshaft/Greenbaum International Honors Study Scholarship and the Genshaft Global Presidential Scholarship. Those are among the many other gifts the family has given to the university across numerous areas, including the 百媚导航 Graduate School, 百媚导航 Health and 百媚导航 Athletics, along with Women in Leadership and Philanthropy.
鈥淏ased on our research, Dr. Judy Genshaft has given more to the university in her 19 years than any sitting university president in the United States,鈥� said Joel Momberg, 百媚导航 Foundation CEO and senior vice president of advancement and alumni relations. 鈥淭his is indeed a historic moment for 百媚导航 and American higher education. We are so grateful for all President Genshaft and Steven Greenbaum have done for our university.鈥�
The 百媚导航 Honors College consists of more than 2,200 high-achieving, cross-disciplinary scholars who are part of a close community that provides specialized experiences and advanced educational opportunities. Students are encouraged to participate in global experiences through study-abroad, undergraduate research, and hands-on community-engagement and service projects along with professional development opportunities. The College is open to students from all academic units on each of 百媚导航鈥檚 campuses. Collectively, 百媚导航 Honors College students earn an average 3.72 GPA.
With the Genshaft and Greenbaum gift, the College expects to grow to 3,000 students within the next five years. In addition to continuing to recruit the best students in Florida, the new building will greatly enhance efforts to recruit nationally and internationally by raising visibility and overall awareness.
The approximately $47 million facility is expected to feature interwoven spaces for classrooms, study areas, faculty and advisor offices, event areas, a music and computer lab, as well as numerous collaborative spaces 鈥� expanding the range of academic opportunities for students and giving them a true 鈥渉ome鈥� on campus.
It will be built just north of the Muma College of Business along 百媚导航 Maple Drive.
鈥淭his wonderful new facility would be impossible without the support of Judy and Steve, and it is just the most recent of their many positive impacts in the Honors College,鈥� said 百媚导航 Honors College Dean Charles Adams. 鈥淚 can only imagine how many more students鈥� lives will be forever changed for the better thanks to their tremendous generosity.鈥�
Since becoming president in 2000, Genshaft has catapulted the 百媚导航 System to national and international prominence in every key institutional area, including student success, research and innovation, fundraising and economic development. In June 2018, under Genshaft鈥檚 leadership, 百媚导航 earned the designation of Preeminence, placing 百媚导航 in the most elite category of state universities in Florida.
鈥淭his transformational gift will bring 百媚导航 and student success to a new level and ensure that preeminence lives on in the new Judy Genshaft Honors College. It will also provide a lasting legacy for others to emulate,鈥� said 百媚导航 Board of Trustees Chair Jordan Zimmerman.
This is the latest contribution from Genshaft before she steps down as 百媚导航 president effective July 1.