$30M Gift Given To University of Mary Washington By Alumna's Estate

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The University of Mary Washington recently received a $30 million gift, its largest ever. The gift came from the estate of Irene Piscopo Rodgers, a 1959 alumna who died in 2022, the university said in a news release.

Rodgers was a STEM pioneer who worked extensively with electron microscopes. The university said the gift from her estate will keep her legacy alive and help prepare future generations of students for STEM careers.

"Students who benefitted from Irene’s generosity welcomed her into their lives, so she was able to observe firsthand the transformative power of her gifts,” UMW President Troy Paino said in a news release. “This unprecedented donation guarantees that exceptional students will continue to have access to a UMW education that delivers the kind of high-impact learning experiences that Irene valued so much.”

Paino noted that Rodgers's final donation will support research efforts in the university's science departments. The university will also use the funds to establish four new Alvery Scholarships. The Alvey Scholarships provide full tuition, fees, and room and board for out-of-state undergraduate students, university officials said. Rodgers had previously funded eight other Alvery Scholarships.

"This gift will be transformational for UMW, establishing us as one of the premier institutions in Virginia, indeed in the country, for undergraduate STEM research,” UMW Provost Tim O’Donnell said. “The mentored experiences the University will be able to offer will be unparalleled. I don’t know of another institution, regardless of size or mission, with such a focused investment.”

Including her final donation, Rodgers gifted more than $39 million to the University of Mary Washington. In 2014, she received an honorary doctorate for her contributions.

"The University is so grateful to have been the beneficiary of Irene’s generosity during her lifetime and now as a lasting part of her legacy. This gift was made possible through relationships built over decades by numerous members of the Mary Washington community,” UMW Vice President for Advancement Katie Turcotte said in a news release. “Everyone who knew Irene knows how much she loved Mary Washington and helping our students pursue opportunities to conduct research.”