Fairleigh Dickinson University marked a milestone on April 21 with the official naming ceremony of the Marion Turpan College of Psychology and Counseling, made possible through a $6 million gift from an anonymous donor, the largest in the university’s history.
Held in the lobby of Dickinson Hall on the Metropolitan Campus, the ceremony brought together university leadership, faculty, students, alumni and supporters to celebrate a moment that FDU President Michael Avaltroni described as “not just a naming, but a celebration of legacy and a vision for the future.”
“This extraordinary commitment reflects a deep belief in our students, our faculty and the future of this college,” said Avaltroni. “It is an investment in the future care and strength of our communities.”
The college is named in honor of the late Marion Turpan, an alumna, educator and lifelong learner whose belief in education as a pathway to opportunity shaped a family legacy of giving back to FDU. The investment will support scholarships and fellowships, strengthen academic programs, enhance faculty resources and expand mental health education and services.
Speaking on behalf of the anonymous donor, FDU alumnus Bryan Dunst, a member of FDU’s Silberman College board of advisers, emphasized that the gift is rooted in purpose.
“This is about creating access, expanding opportunity and ensuring students have the resources they need to make an impact,” he said. “It honors the past, invests in the present and prepares for the future.”
The ceremony also highlighted the future Marion Turpan Innovation and Humanics Hub, a state-of-the-art interdisciplinary space in development and expected to open in 2027. Concept renderings displayed throughout the event offered a preview of a collaborative environment where psychology, counseling, nursing and related disciplines will intersect while focusing on human connections in a world filled with technological advances.
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