A fund launched by President Kevin Weinman and his wife, Beth, to widen student access to a range of meaningful academic activities has drawn great interest among undergraduates.
The President’s Fund for Equity in the Marist Experience supports internships, attachment programs such as courses that include a travel component, and individual tutoring. Awards are intended for students enrolled in an undergraduate, degree-seeking program who demonstrate significant financial need and where financial constraints are a barrier to their participation in these activities.
As of mid-March, 123 applications for funding had been received. So far, 72 students have received funds, with the majority of the awards supporting courses with a travel component.
The Weinmans established the fund in December 2021 with a pledge of $250,000. Since then, a number of donors, including 100 percent of the College’s Board of Trustees, have added generously to it.
Soon after arriving at Marist in fall 2021, Weinman saw a way he could help make an impact on the student experience.
“In my short time here, it is already abundantly clear to me that Marist is thriving, yet has the potential to achieve even greater heights,” Weinman said at the time. “One of the ways Marist can do so is to attract, enroll, and retain a diverse group of talented students and enable them to experience the full range of curricular and co-curricular offerings once they arrive, regardless of their financial circumstances. Our pledge is intended to be one small step towards helping all of our students to reach their full potential and get the most out of their Marist experience.”
Inspired by the Weinmans’ gift, Chair of the Board of Trustees Ross Mauri ’80 and his wife, Barbara, matched it with a pledge of their own. This past fall, Mauri announced that every member of the Board of Trustees also had made a pledge to the fund in honor of Weinman’s inauguration Sept. 23. The College would also like to recognize the generous gift to the fund made by Emily Saland and her husband, Jesse. Emily is vice president of strategic initiatives and chief of staff at Marist.
Applications are reviewed in a competitive process to distribute funding by committees from Marist’s Academic Affairs office, Academic Learning Center, Center for Career Services, and Office of International Programs. Student Financial Services and the Business Affairs Office are responsible for confirming eligibility and overseeing the distribution of awards.
The College’s goal is to continue to grow the fund, the range of activities it supports, and its impact on students. The Advancement Office is still actively seeking additional support for this important objective. To make a contribution to the President’s Fund for Equity in the Marist Experience, please visit marist.edu/presidentsfund
Louis Greenspan Endowed Fund for Equity in the Marist Experience
In addition to the significant term funding that has been secured for the President’s Fund for Equity in the Marist Experience, the College is pleased to announce the establishment of a new endowed fund that was recently established through a generous grant from the Louis Greenspan Charitable Trust to support these important objectives on an ongoing basis. When fully funded, the Louis Greenspan Endowed Fund for Equity in the Marist Experience will provide a perpetual source of support for internships, attachment programs such as courses that include a travel component, and individual tutoring. The College is most grateful to Greenspan Trustees Dan Curtin and Gary Koch for their ongoing commitment to Marist and the many ways the trust has enhanced the world-class opportunities, experiences, and facilities that are available to Marist students.