George Mason University Receives $20 Million Donation

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Students at George Mason University working on technology projects in the newly named Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong School of Computing.

News Summary

George Mason University has received a transformative $20 million donation from the Kimmy Duong Foundation, aimed at enhancing its technology and computing programs. The contribution will support scholarships and education initiatives, and the university plans to rename its School of Computing to honor the donors. This philanthropic effort is part of a larger trend in higher education funding, reinforcing the significance of financial support in providing quality education to future generations.

Fairfax, Virginia – George Mason University (GMU) has announced a significant milestone in its commitment to enhancing educational opportunities in technology and computing fields, following a generous $20 million donation from the Kimmy Duong Foundation. This substantial contribution is poised to enhance the university’s School of Computing and may ultimately yield a total impact of up to $36 million thanks to the eligibility for matching funds from Virginia’s Tech Talent Investment Program.

In recognition of this transformative donation, GMU’s Board of Visitors has voted to rename the School of Computing to the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong School of Computing. The donation is earmarked for the establishment of three key endowments. Two of these endowments will support scholarships and various student success initiatives within GMU’s College of Engineering. The third endowment, known as the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong Scholarship Endowment, will specifically provide scholarships for students majoring in nursing, education, or journalism.

Gregory Washington, President of George Mason University, has expressed gratitude towards Kimmy Duong and Long Nguyen for their long-standing support and dedication to enriching the university community. This donation marks a continuation of their commitment to the institution, having previously donated $5 million in 2009 to fund the Nguyen Engineering Building at GMU.

Kimmy Duong’s inspiring personal journey began in Vietnam, where she was born and earned her degrees in economics and law from the University of Saigon. She joined IBM in 1968, right before the tumultuous period during the Vietnam War. In 1975, during the chaotic fall of Saigon, Duong fled Vietnam with only $30 in her pocket, arriving in the United States to pursue opportunities that would shape her future. After her tenure with IBM, she served as the vice chairwoman and CFO of Pragmatics, a technology firm she joined in 1994.

In 2015, Duong established the Kimmy Duong Foundation, which focuses on supporting health, education, and welfare initiatives both in the United States and Vietnam. Her dedication to giving back stems from her own experiences and the opportunities she found in America, underscoring her belief in the transformative power of education.

A ceremony was held on April 25 to honor the monumental donation and officially unveil the new name for the School of Computing. However, the change in the school name is still pending approval from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

This donation from the Kimmy Duong Foundation is part of a broader trend in philanthropy within higher education, which has seen other multimillion-dollar donations recently, including $10 million each to Creighton University and the University of San Diego. This trend highlights the increasing recognition of the importance of financial support in helping universities provide quality education and resources to their students.

As GMU prepares to implement the changes from this landmark donation, the university anticipates that the additional resources will significantly enhance its programs in computing and engineering, aiding future generations of scholars and professionals in these vital fields.