Investment strengthens the School of Management’s hands-on, career-focused curriculum
Marist has received a transformative $250,000 pledge from George ’91 and Deborah Koutsaftes to establish the Koutsaftes Family Business Innovation Lab in the Dyson Center. Their investment will empower faculty and students in the School of Management to expand experiential learning through hands-on projects, applied research, and opportunities that bring classroom concepts to life.
The gift will directly fund new initiatives, including faculty grants to pilot innovative courses, support for student organizations to attend national competitions, and resources for career development. In addition, the gift will fund access to new technologies, tools, and software that connect academic experiences to the real world, helping students document co-curricular learning, build professional competencies, and engage with industry-standard platforms used across today’s workforce. Funds are also helping the School of Management faculty benchmark and learn from leading institutions about best practices for experiential learning.
“This gift unlocks the possibility for faculty and students to do some big things very quickly,” said Dean Will Lamb. “It’s the kind of catalytic support that accelerates innovation. By having the funds in hand, it creates a very different conversation for the team when we ask them for new ideas. They know that, if they have a great idea, we can move forward with it now.”
For George Koutsaftes ’91, a former Honeywell executive and member of the School of Management Advisory Board, the motivation was personal. “I wanted to invest in experiences—real-world opportunities and technology that help students grow as thinkers, leaders, and professionals.”
A proud alumnus and seasoned business leader, Koutsaftes brings more than three decades of corporate leadership experience, having risen through the ranks at Honeywell, and ultimately serving as CEO of one of the company’s largest divisions. He has long championed student success at Marist, mentoring young professionals and supporting initiatives that blend classroom learning with real-world applications. His and Deborah’s latest gift continues that legacy—advancing Marist’s vision for innovative, hands-on business education.
George and Deborah Koutsaftes
The Koutsaftes’ focus on experiential learning aligns with Marist 100 and the School of Management’s vision to expand access to applied, interdisciplinary learning through the Business Innovation Lab. This critical initiative will provide students with the tools, resources, and opportunities to connect with faculty mentors, alumni partners, and industry leaders—cultivating the entrepreneurial mindset and professional agility that define today’s business landscape.
George and Deborah’s generosity ensures that future Red Foxes will not only learn about business innovation, but practice it every day.
Highlighting student achievement and regional collaboration
Marist University welcomed students, business leaders, faculty, and staff to campus this fall for the annual Hudson Valley Scholars Reception—an event that celebrates one of the University’s longest-standing commitments to local talent and community partnership.
For more than 25 years, the Hudson Valley Scholars program has connected generous regional businesses with high-achieving students across the seven counties of the Hudson Valley, providing essential financial support and strengthening the local workforce.
Last year alone, more than $90,000 was contributed by 51 Hudson Valley businesses, helping 330 students pursue their education at Marist. These scholars represent the best of the region—first-generation students, commuters and residents, and students ready to contribute to the future of the Hudson Valley.
Executive Vice President Dr. Geoff Brackett reflected on the University’s longstanding commitment to community, one of the founding ideals of the Marist Brothers. He noted that the program embodies the Expansive Community pillar of Marist 100 by strengthening partnerships that enrich both Marist and the greater region.
The event also featured remarks from Jared Kerin ’26, a computer science and cybersecurity major supported by the program throughout his four years at Marist. “Being a Hudson Valley Scholar has meant more than financial support,” he shared. “It’s given me opportunities, confidence, and a community that believes in my future.”
New Endowed Scholarship Opens Doors to Fashion Industry
When Allen Miller asked his wife Susan Davidson what she wanted for her milestone birthday, she didn't ask for a trip, a celebration, or a special gift
Instead, she asked for something that would outlast any celebration: a scholarship for Marist fashion students.
The request came from a place Allen knew well. For the past eight years, Susan has taught in Marist University's Fashion Department while serving on the Fashion Advisory Board, sharing lessons drawn from a career she started as a young buyer visiting and working with garment factories in mainland China and concluded 40 years later as a senior executive and CEO regularly attending the great runway shows of New York, Paris, and Milan.
To honor Susan's career and commitment to teaching, Allen established the Susan Davidson Endowed Scholarship, creating a lasting source of support for future generations of Marist fashion students.
"It was important to us that this gift benefit students directly," Allen said. "We wanted to create opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach."
The gift also reflects the couple's longstanding commitment to Marist. In addition to Susan's work with students, Allen serves on the Hudson River Valley Institute Advisory Board. Together, they have dedicated their time, expertise, and resources to supporting the University's mission.
The perspectives they share with students are rooted in decades of international experience. Before settling in the Hudson Valley, both Susan and Allen built careers that took them around the world.
"Susan brings a remarkable depth of global experience to the classroom, but what truly sets her apart is her commitment to students. She challenges them to think beyond the industry as they know it and helps them understand the broader business, cultural, and global forces that shape fashion today.”
–Rebecca Brown, Fashion Department Chair
Susan held various leadership roles in merchandising and product development with companies such as Bloomingdales and Federated Department stores before becoming President of DKNY Jeans, President of KateSpade, CEO of Scoop and CEO of Zac Posen. Allen's career included work in international law and business across Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Asia, giving him firsthand experience navigating an increasingly global marketplace.
"The students are incredibly career- focused," Susan said. "They're eager to learn and excited to connect what they're studying in the classroom to what happens in the real world."
That drive is one of the reasons the couple chose to support experiential opportunities for students. Throughout their careers, both learned that some of the most important lessons happen beyond textbooks—through professional experiences, industry connections, mentorship, and exposure to new environments.
For Allen, one opportunity stood out in particular: helping students access New York City and the countless learning opportunities it provides.
"Transportation, networking events, industry programs—those costs add up," he said. "We wanted to help students take advantage of experiences that can make a real difference in their professional development."
The gift serves as a tribute to the work Susan has done at Marist. Through her teaching, she has helped students understand not only the fashion industry itself, but the global business, legal, and cultural forces that shape it.
Commitment from the Dyson Foundation advances the University’s continued momentum and expands access
Marist University has received the largest scholarship gift in its history; a transformative $5 million commitment from the Dyson Foundation, advancing the University’s continued momentum and expanding access to a Marist education.
Beginning in the 2026–27 academic year and distributed over 10 years, the investment will provide sustained scholarship support for students throughout the Hudson Valley, strengthening the University’s ability to recognize and support local talent in its home region.
