Philadelphia, PA, June 3, 2014—The Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania and the School of Engineering and Applied Science are pleased to announce a gift of $7.5 million to name the home of the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology (M&T Program). This generous contribution from Larry Robbins, ENG’92, W’92, will fund a full renovation of the historic building and create a permanent endowed fund to support its operations and maintenance in perpetuity.
The newly renovated Larry Robbins Building will provide an engaging environment in which M&T cohorts can interact academically and socially. Robbins’ gift will not only support essential restoration projects and building upgrades, it will also fund new, cutting-edge facilities, including a seminar room, student lounges and workrooms, computer stations, staff offices, a conference room and a reception area.
“This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology,” said William F. Hamilton, the Program’s director and Wharton’s Ralph Landau Professor of Management and Technology. “It is a time for both celebration and contemplation as we prepare for the next 35 years. Larry Robbins’ gift will set the stage for even greater success in the future.”
The Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology is the oldest undergraduate coordinated dual-degree program at the University of Pennsylvania. Combining two of Penn’s most prestigious programs into one educational experience, the M&T Program allows students to pursue dual undergraduate degrees—a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Wharton and either a Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering from Penn Engineering.
“A hallmark of the University of Pennsylvania is its commitment to the integration of knowledge through interdisciplinary educational programs,” said University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann. “This contribution from Larry Robbins underscores the ongoing value of the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology, and its huge impact on alumni and in the global business and technology communities.”
“It is an honor to reinvest in the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology that for the past 35 years provided me and others with an unparalleled technical education in the disciplines of engineering and business,” said Robbins. “On behalf of my fellow M&T alumni, we are grateful for Dr. Hamilton’s leadership and the University’s support of the Program over the long-term, and we are committed to apply this foundation in management and technology to improve our world through innovation and entrepreneurship in commercial and philanthropic endeavors. With this gift, the next generation of bright and talented M&T students and committed faculty and leadership will enjoy a facility that fosters collaboration and community and reflects the prominence of Penn’s M&T program.”
As one of the world’s preeminent dual-degree programs bridging the gap between management and technology, the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology has established a longstanding reputation within academic and professional communities for producing talented graduates with a unique skillset. These exceptional alumni become leaders in their fields, combining the engineering and business knowledge they gained at Penn to design and implement innovative solutions to commercial and social challenges.
“The Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology addresses a critical and current need to educate a new generation of global leaders and entrepreneurs adept in technology and business,” said Wharton Dean Thomas S. Robertson. “Larry Robbins’ gift will propel the Program to new heights in scholarship, and thus will enable our graduates to better position themselves at the top of their fields.”
Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science Eduardo Glandt said: “Jerome Fisher M&T Program students are the best of the best. With his gift, Mr. Robbins is not only investing in the future of the Program—he is investing in the next generation of leaders in business and technology.”
About the Wharton School
Founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. With a broad global community and one of the most published business school faculties, Wharton creates ongoing economic and social value around the world. The School has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students; more than 9,000 annual participants in executive education programs; and a powerful alumni network of more than 92,000 graduates.
About Penn Engineering
Penn Engineering has educated exceptional students since its founding in 1852, combining engineering technology and the liberal arts. Having evolved in transformative ways to meet the technological opportunities and challenges of the 21st Century, the School’s educational philosophy has remained constant: to integrate current theory and hands-on experience with modern instrumentation and analytic techniques that students will encounter in their careers, whether in business, the industrial workplace, or advanced research. The School currently enrolls 1,690 undergraduates, 890 masters’ students, and 451 doctoral candidates.
