News Summary
George Mason University has secured a substantial $20 million gift from the Kimmy Duong Foundation for its School of Computing. This donation aims to bolster educational initiatives and student success, potentially reaching around $36 million with matching funds. The contribution will establish three endowments to enhance student experiences, with a noteworthy focus on scholarships for nursing, education, and journalism fields. GMU’s Board of Visitors will rename the School of Computing in honor of the donors, marking a significant moment in the university’s development.
Fairfax, Virginia — George Mason University (GMU) has received a significant donation of $20 million from the Kimmy Duong Foundation to their School of Computing. This funding marks a notable investment in educational initiatives and student success at the university. This generous contribution comes on the heels of a recent trend, as three universities, including GMU, Creighton University, and the University of San Diego, have received multimillion-dollar donations within a 10-day period.
A portion of the $20 million donation will be eligible for matching funds through Virginia’s Tech Talent Investment Program, which can potentially increase the overall impact of the gift to around $36 million. In recognition of this significant donation, GMU’s Board of Visitors will rename the institution’s School of Computing to the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong School of Computing.
The donation is set to establish three endowments designed to enhance student experiences and success within GMU. Two of the endowments will directly benefit scholarships and initiatives aimed at enhancing student success within GMU’s College of Engineering. The third endowment, the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong Scholarship Endowment, will focus on supporting students pursuing degrees in nursing, education, or journalism.
Significance of the Donation
GMU President Gregory Washington emphasized the importance of the donation, acknowledging the personal success journey of Kimmy Duong as emblematic of the experiences faced by many GMU students. The celebration event held on April 25 at GMU’s Fairfax campus included university officials and the donors.
Kimmy Duong’s Background
Kimmy Duong, born in Vietnam, earned her Bachelor of Science in economics and law from the University of Saigon in 1966. She began working at IBM in 1968 and remained with the company until she fled Vietnam in 1975. After relocating, she joined Pragmatics, where she served as vice chairwoman and CFO and managed essential departments, including finance, legal, facilities management, and human resources.
In 2015, Duong founded the Kimmy Duong Foundation aimed at advancing health, education, and welfare initiatives both in the U.S. and Vietnam. Prior to this latest donation, Duong and her husband had already contributed $5 million to GMU in 2009, which was used to finance the Nguyen Engineering Building—a facility intended for engineering, computing, and IT students.
Other Recent Donations in Higher Education
Other institutions have also received substantial donations recently. Creighton University announced a $10 million bequest from alumnus Elno Zikmund and his wife designated for unrestricted scholarships, which is one of the largest gifts of its kind. Likewise, the University of San Diego revealed a $10 million donation from Dan and Phyllis Epstein to establish the Epstein Family Foundation Military-Connected Center for Excellence, which is focused on aiding military-connected students. This donation includes a challenge to raise an additional $10 million in matching funds for the center.
Dan Epstein is notable for founding the ConAm Group, a leading apartment management company, and has a long-standing track record of supporting university programs.
Renaming Approval Process
It is important to note that the renaming of GMU’s School of Computing will require approval from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Dean Ken Ball remarked that Duong’s story illustrates values of determination and resilience, reflecting what many students at GMU strive to achieve through their education.
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