Donald J. Puglisi, a 2012 honorary degree recipient, and his
wife, Marichu C. Valencia, made University of Delaware history June 10 when they
signed a new $5 million commitment to the Donald J. Puglisi and Marichu
C. Valencia Music Enrichment Fund, an unrestricted endowed fund
established by the couple in 2010 to support the Department of Music.
The gift is the single largest contribution to the College of Arts
and Sciences from a living person in the history of the University and
will ensure a lasting legacy of music education, appreciation and
enrichment at UD and throughout the region.
President Dennis Assanis expressed his heartfelt gratitude and
excitement to Puglisi and Valencia on the momentous occasion of signing
the gift agreement at Hullihen Hall.
“I am extremely grateful to Don and Marichu for their unprecedented
commitment to the Department of Music and the University of Delaware
over the years. Their latest transformational gift underscores the
centrality of the arts and humanities in our academic mission and core
values as an institution,” said Assanis. “I look forward to working
closely with them and the Department of Music to build on our rich
tradition of excellence and continue to make a strong impact in the
community.”
Puglisi and Valencia are long-time supporters of the University and
have strengthened a variety of initiatives within the College of Arts
and Sciences, the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, the
athletics program and, most recently, Engineers Without Borders.
George Watson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said the
couple’s generosity sends a powerful message about the importance of the
arts.
“It demonstrates their leadership and belief in the broad mission of
the University, touching the lives of both students and members of our
community,” Watson said. “This investment in our students and our
programs in music and the performing arts truly transforms lives and
creates significant opportunities for both students and faculty for
decades to come.”
Over the years, their leadership and collective contributions have
impacted innumerable students and faculty, and have even motivated a
community of music enthusiasts to financially support the University
through the Puglisi Challenge.
“We believe music is a universal language that has a transformative
effect on people,” explained Valencia. “It is our hope that this gift
will help to further enrich the lives of our students, faculty and
community, as well as encourage future generations to support the arts.”
The couple’s $5 million commitment will support many activities in
the department such as student ensembles, visiting professors, guest
artists, instrument equipment and travel costs to conferences, and will
bolster the breadth and depth of the fund’s impact on music students at
the University.
“The music programs at UD provide unparalleled experiences to our
local, as well as global, audiences,” Puglisi said. “Our continuing
investment in those programs is a recognition of the accomplishments and
the promise of our extraordinary students and faculty, and our
confidence in the future of our great University.”
Russell E. Murray Jr., music department chair and professor and
founding director of the University of Delaware Collegium Musicum, said
he is extraordinarily grateful to Puglisi and Valencia for their
generosity and personal involvement in the Department of Music.
“This gift marks a new chapter for the Department of Music. Don and
Marichu’s past gifts have made a real difference in the life of the
department and this new gift allows us to build on the excellence of the
department in new and exciting ways,” Murray said.
Thanks to the tremendous spirit of generosity of Puglisi and
Valencia, the Department of Music will continue to shine as an academic
and cultural powerhouse.
About Donald J. Puglisi and Marichu Valencia
Donald J. Puglisi is the MBNA America Professor Emeritus of Business,
having served on the UD faculty for 30 years, and is the managing
director of Puglisi and Associates. He currently serves as a member of
the University’s Board of Trustees, has served as the University of
Delaware Public Service Fellow with the Office of the Treasurer for the
state of Delaware and as a Visiting Research Scholar with the Federal
Home Loan Bank Board, and was co-chair of the presidential search
committee for President Assanis. Puglisi is also a recipient of the
University of Delaware's Medal of Distinction and an honorary doctor of
humanities degree.
Marichu Valencia retired as senior interior designer from the Bureau
of Overseas Buildings Operations with the U.S. Department of State. She
currently serves as a member of the President’s Leadership Council at
UD, which she joined in November 2015, and is a past co-chair of the
University’s Master Players Concert Series Advisory Board. Valencia is
passionate about serving the community and has worked with a host of
local community organizations including the Boys and Girls Club of
Delaware, Meals On Wheels Delaware, the Ronald McDonald House and the
Newark Senior Center.
About the Department of Music
For more than 60 years, the University of Delaware Department of
Music has been dedicated to the musical growth of its students and the
cultural enrichment of the academic and regional communities. The
department also contributes greatly to UD’s vibrant community presence
by providing an array of musical experiences and special programs to
area residents – from giving young children their first exposure to
music, to assisting music professionals as they pursue advanced degrees.
During the academic year the department presents over 250 concerts
featuring students, distinguished faculty members and special guest
artists
