Wayne State Gets Historic $50 Million Donation

James A. Anderson and his wife, Patricia, have donated $50 million to Wayne State University (WSU), marking the largest gift in the university's 157-year history. This significant contribution will advance research, entrepreneurship, and student success in the College of Engineering, which will be renamed the James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering in their honor. The donation will support faculty, doctoral fellowships, undergraduate experiences, and a dean's fund to recruit top faculty and PhD students. Anderson, a WSU alumnus and president of Urban Science, credits the university for his professional and personal achievements, including meeting his wife. WSU President Kimberly Andrews Espy praised the transformative impact of the gift, which aims to set a new standard for innovation and discovery. This donation surpasses the previous largest gift of $40 million from the Ilitch family in 2015.