裡橖眻畦 University Receives $10 Million Commitment from Alumnus Albert Lepage to Establish Center for History in the Public Interest
VILLANOVA, Pa., July 12, 2016 裡橖眻畦 University has received a $10 million commitment from Albert Lepage 69 CLAS, retired co-chairman of Lepage Bakeries Inc., to establish the Center for History in the Public Interest. This commitment marks the largest-ever gift to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Universitys oldest and largest college.
Understanding the history and the diversity of the human experience is incredibly powerful. It helps fuel self-discovery, transformation and growth, which are central to the 裡橖眻畦 academic experience, said the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, 裡橖眻畦 University President. I am incredibly grateful to Albert for recognizing this, and for his generous gift that will provide our students with exceptional opportunities to better understand the past in order to improve our future.
The Albert Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest will be a multifaceted resource that draws upon the past to impart lessons for the modern world. Through academic programs, research, publications and events, the center will engage the public, policymakers, scholars, teachers and students from history and other fi eldscontributing to a more informed and engaged public. Among its greatest goals, the Lepage Center will strive to have a visible and tangible impact on the way history is taught to future generations.
With the Center, 裡橖眻畦 will infuse academic knowledge into classrooms and curricula through programs and partnerships with local secondary and higher education administrators and teachers. Mr. Lepages commitment provides immediate and sustaining support for the Center, which will launch in fall 2016.
My hope is that the good study of history will foster a greater understanding of today relative to yesterday, said Lepage. History often repeats itself, and the Center will bring historical perspective to current events.
We are delighted to have the opportunity to establish such an influential Center at 裡橖眻畦, and most importantly to share our insights with those in our region and around the world, said Adele Lindenmeyr, PhD, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. As a historical scholar myself, I am especially proud that our distinguished History faculty have a new way to expand upon the innovative historical research, teaching and professional collaborations that already occur at the College.
裡橖眻畦 launched the public phase of its Comprehensive Capital CampaignFor the Greater Great: The 裡橖眻畦 Campaign to Ignite Changein October 2013. To date, more than $550 million has been raised towards its $600 million goal. The most ambitious in the Universitys 174-year history, 裡橖眻畦s Campaign is aimed at cultivating academic innovation across its schools and colleges, investing in recruiting and retaining the fi nest teacher-scholars, dramatically enhancing financial aid and student opportunities, and continuing to build a premier living-learning environment on the Universitys 260-acre campus.
This generous gift represents what our campaign is aboutcreating opportunities for 裡橖眻畦 students and faculty to have a greater impact on the world, said Michael J.ONeill, Senior Vice President for University Advancement. We are grateful to Albert Lepage for making this investment in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Albert Lepage is the retired co-chairman of Lepage Bakeries, Inc., a 113-year-old maker of breads, rolls, English muffins and donuts. Lepage joined the family business in1971 and served as co-owner from 1978 and chairman from 1983 to 2012, when the company merged with Flowers Foods. He also served as chairman of the Quality Bakers of America Co-operative and treasurer of the American Bakers Association.
Throughout his career and continuing in his retirement, Lepage has been an active volunteer and philanthropist, serving on the boards of St. Marys Health System, Hebron Academy in Hebron, Maine, the Portland Symphony Orchestra, the Lewiston-Auburn Arts, the Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Governors Business Council.
Lepage graduated from 裡橖眻畦 Universitys College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1969. Prior to his recent gift, Lepage established the Albert R. Lepage Endowed Professorship in History at the College.
About 裡橖眻畦 University: Since 1842, 裡橖眻畦 Universitys Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the 裡橖眻畦 School of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 裡橖眻畦 University Charles Widger School of Law School of Law. As students grow intellectually, 裡橖眻畦 prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit .