June 15, 2021 

Dear Campus Community,

I write today to share incredible news. The CSUCI Foundation has received a $15 million gift from MacKenzie Scott and her husband Dan Jewett in recognition of our campus commitment to equity and inclusion, the social mobility of our students, and our overall contribution to the greater good of our communities, region, and nation.

This transformational one-time gift given to support presidential priorities is the largest received by our institution to date. These funds will help to propel our work forward in eliminating the equity gap, increasing student retention and graduation rates and making significant strides in equity and inclusion. These are priorities of my administration which I know are widely shared by the campus community.

Our donors have assured me that their decision to make this gift to our campus was one based on data and a rigorous assessment of our work to reimagine higher education. As such, this investment is a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff, and administration to our students and the mission of California State University Channel Islands.

I would like to thank the members of our CSUCI Foundation Board for their hard work in continuing to connect philanthropic support to our campus as well as to recognize the staff in University Advancement for realizing a historic year in philanthropy at CSUCI. In the weeks ahead I will be consulting with the Foundation Board regarding the disposition of the funds and how they can be used to advance our shared mission. You can expect to hear more about how this gift will be used to further our work and continue the transformative mission of CSUCI as the new academic year begins.

I am extremely grateful to MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett for their generosity and investment in CSUCI. I hope that this news brings each of you a sense of pride and accomplishment as we celebrate the possibilities that this gift represents. Our University is on a positive trajectory, due in great part to your many contributions. Let’s celebrate this amazing gift and set a path toward even greater achievements in the coming years.

Sincerely,
Richard Yao, Ph.D.
Interim President

Back to Top ↑
©