$7.5 Million to Name the Home of the M&T Program |
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July 15, 2014, Volume 61, No. 01 |
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the School of Engineering and Applied Science announced a gift of $7.5 million to name the home of the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology (M&T Program). This generous contribution from Larry Robbins, ENG’92, W’92, will fund a full renovation of the historic building located at 3537 Locust Walk and create a permanent endowed fund to support its operations and maintenance in perpetuity.
The newly renovated Larry Robbins Building will provide an engaging environment in which M&T cohorts can interact academically and socially. Mr. Robbins’ gift will not only support essential restoration projects and building upgrades, it will also fund new, cutting-edge facilities, including a seminar room, student lounges and workrooms, computer stations, staff offices, a conference room and a reception area.
“This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology,” said William F. Hamilton, the Program’s director and Wharton’s Ralph Landau Professor of Management & Technology. “It is a time for both celebration and contemplation as we prepare for the next 35 years. Larry Robbins’ gift will set the stage for even greater success in the future.”
The Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology is the oldest undergraduate coordinated dual-degree program at the University. Combining two of Penn’s most prestigious programs into one educational experience, the M&T Program allows students to pursue dual undergraduate degrees—a bachelor of science in economics from Wharton and either a bachelor of science in engineering or a bachelor of applied science in engineering from Penn Engineering.
“A hallmark of the University of Pennsylvania is its commitment to the integration of knowledge through interdisciplinary educational programs,” said University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann. “This contribution from Larry Robbins underscores the ongoing value of the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, and its huge impact on alumni and in the global business and technology communities.”
“It is an honor to reinvest in the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology that for the past 35 years provided me and others with an unparalleled technical education in the disciplines of engineering and business,” said Mr. Robbins. “On behalf of my fellow M&T alumni, we are grateful for Dr. Hamilton’s leadership and the University’s support of the Program over the long-term, and we are committed to apply this foundation in management and technology to improve our world through innovation and entrepreneurship in commercial and philanthropic endeavors. With this gift, the next generation of bright and talented M&T students and committed faculty and leadership will enjoy a facility that fosters collaboration and community and reflects the prominence of Penn’s M&T program.”
As one of the world’s preeminent dual-degree programs bridging the gap between management and technology, the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology has established a long-standing reputation within academic and professional communities for producing talented graduates with a unique skillset. These exceptional alumni become leaders in their fields, combining the engineering and business knowledge they gained at Penn to design and implement innovative solutions to commercial and social challenges.
“The Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology addresses a critical and current need to educate a new generation of global leaders and entrepreneurs adept in technology and business,” said Wharton Dean Thomas S. Robertson. “Larry Robbins’ gift will propel the Program to new heights in scholarship, and thus will enable our graduates to better position themselves at the top of their fields.”
Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science Eduardo Glandt said, “Jerome Fisher M&T Program students are the best of the best. With his gift, Mr. Robbins is not only investing in the future of the Program—he is investing in the next generation of leaders in business and technology.” |