The University of Utah has announced a $15 million donation from the Kahlert Foundation to provide support for the university’s School of Computing. The donation will establish an endowment to provide the school with flexible, long-term funding that will expand student support, bring in top faculty and accelerate industry collaborations. In recognition of the gift, the university will rename the school in collaboration with the Kahlert Foundation.
The Kahlert Foundation is a Sykesville, Maryland, philanthropic organization that provides funding mainly in Maryland and Utah in the areas of healthcare, education, youth programs, veteran organizations and human services. It was established in 1991 by Bill Kahlert, a philanthropist and co-founder of Evapco Inc.
“The University of Utah’s computer science program is a legendary strength of both the school and the state and we wanted to do our part to help that legacy continue,” said Heather Kahlert, vice president of the Kahlert Foundation and a University of Utah alumna. “Our foundation is passionate about the value of STEM in improving lives and building for the future and helping to ensure ongoing generations of diverse, top-level computer scientists in Utah is right in line with our mission.”
“The University of Utah is a pioneering program in computer science and its deep value is clear in the fact that computer science has become the single largest major on campus,” said Taylor Randall, president of the University of Utah. “This generous gift from the Kahlert Foundation will ensure that the foundation and the School of Computing will continue to lead innovation and build the workforce that will continue to drive tech in Utah and around the world.”
“The Kahlert Foundation’s gift is timely as it will amplify our efforts to make our computing program welcoming and inclusive, through support for student success programs and faculty development,” said Mary Hall, professor and director of the School of Computing.