ADVANCING THE MISSION
Planned Giving
Q & A with DEBBIE WEBSTER ' 78
Q : What inspired you to leave a bequest for Stevenson University ?
32 a member of the Walters Art Museum board , and past member of the boards of the Howard County Conservancy , St . Joseph Hospital Foundation , and the National Arthritis Foundation of Maryland .
“ Jennifer and George have long served as transformational leaders in our community ,” said President Hirshman . “ We are grateful for their extraordinary generosity and the difference they are making by supporting Stevenson ’ s students .”
George and Jennifer Ward Reynolds
LEADERSHIP PARENT GIVING
Stevenson University is excited to announce that the parents of a Stevenson Class of 2022 student — inspired by the recent generous gifts from Trustees , faculty , and friends of Stevenson — donated a gift of $ 208,000 to the university . The donors designated the gift to fund gap scholarships that can assist scholarship-receiving students when they face a short-term interruption in their ability to pay due to circumstances beyond their control .
In explaining their motivation for giving to Stevenson , our parents stated , “ Stevenson is a special place with a special mission . In potentially uncertain times , it is more important than ever that our long-term investments in a Stevenson education and in our students are not lost to short-term disruptions that can occur in their lives . Stevenson students are our future , and by supporting them today we are ensuring that they will be ready to make important contributions to our society in the years to come .”
“ This extraordinary gift demonstrates the powerful impact that our community ’ s leaders — in this case , Stevenson parents — can have in supporting our students ,” said President Hirshman . “ We are deeply grateful for this generous donation .”
| VENTURES / WINTER 2020-2021
A : There are several reasons . First , I wanted others to have the same opportunity I was given in 1974 to go to college . Second , I wanted to pay it back because of Dean Rose Dawson . I had not graduated from high school at the time I met her . I had been working for a year when my sister , who was attending the University of Maryland School of Law at the time , suggested I look into this small college run by nuns . It seemed like a stretch , but Dean Dawson accepted me as a Villa Julie College student after a long interview . We negotiated with my high school to accept the credits earned at VJC as satisfying the requirements I needed to earn my high school diploma . Dean Dawson ’ s decision to take a chance on me changed the course of my life . Lastly , the time was right . My husband passed away in May of this year after a long , debilitating illness , exacerbated by COVID-19 . As I no longer had to be concerned about paying for his care , I had the freedom to make this change .
Q : How was your experience at Villa Julie College ?
A : For the first time since I was in elementary school , I was enthralled with learning . In no small part , this was due to the quality and dedication of the professors who made history and literature accessible and interesting . I valued being a part of the discussions and debates in law classes and learning how to write briefs that could influence decisions and thinking with facts and a sound rationale . I moved to Baltimore from Williamsville , N . Y . to attend VJC . My neighbors came from all walks of life — musicians , artists , teachers and bankers and so on . I was fortunate to experience both Stevenson ’ s beautiful landscape and the heart of Baltimore at the same time .
Q : Do you feel that your time at Villa Julie College served you well throughout your life ? If so , how ?
A : VJC helped me lay a foundation for my career . I value my work as well as my family and community . I call into play specific skills that I learned at VJC almost every day . VJC and all life ’ s lessons have made me better equipped to take on challenges , to be resilient and adapt to changes . I have a wonderful career in affordable housing policy , development , and finance in Maryland and , since 1999 , in Indian Country with several non-profits . I have had my own business since 2007 doing this same work . I am successful because I contribute to improving the conditions where people live .