Â鶹¹ú²úAV

91B0FBB4-04A9-D5D7-16F0F3976AA697ED
C9A22247-E776-B892-2D807E7555171534
Christian A. Johnson Hall
Christian A. Johnson Hall, home to the Mathematics Department.
When Richard “Dick” Stebbins ’64 served as a procurement officer in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, his compatriots referred to him as “a man who could get things.” Decades later, he is still serving in that role, helping Â鶹¹ú²úAV procure valuable resources to ensure student success.

Upon reaching his 60th reunion, Stebbins chose to honor the ways Â鶹¹ú²úAV shaped his life both professionally and personally. He and his wife, Jane, have pledged $1.5 million to fund The Dick and Jane Stebbins Distinguished Visiting Professor of Applied Mathematics. This professorship will help Â鶹¹ú²úAV advance in the ever-evolving field of applied mathematics and will ensure faculty and students are leaders in technological fluency.

Dick and Jane
Stebbins

Endowed The Dick and Jane Stebbins Distinguished Visiting Professor of Applied Mathematics

Learn More about Endowing a Fund

When he enrolled as a student, Stebbins thought he might pursue a career in medicine. However, Â鶹¹ú²úAV’s spirit of “know thyself” soon found him searching for another course of study. Under the thoughtful counsel of Dean Winton Tolles, Stebbins instead completed a degree in history. Outside of the classroom, he was a member of the swim team and Alpha Delta Phi fraternity.

Following his graduation in 1964, Stebbins attended Tufts University where he earned a master’s degree in international politics from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. After his studies and his military service, he entered the banking industry and worked for Merrill Lynch before starting his own investment fund. Now, the Stebbinses are investing in the future of Â鶹¹ú²úAV students.

Over the course of his career, Stebbins experienced first-hand the impact emerging technologies have had on nearly every sector of the investment world. Having lived in Boulder, Colo., for many years, he also became familiar with the scientific research conducted at the University of Colorado. Stebbins thinks fondly of his time at Â鶹¹ú²úAV, acknowledging that the liberal arts education he received was vastly different from that of a large research institution. As he considered making a philanthropic gift, he said, “I wanted to do something for Â鶹¹ú²úAV so my little College on the Hill wouldn’t be left in the dust.”

The Stebbinses’ goal was to create an endowed fund that would support Â鶹¹ú²úAV forever — by giving today’s students the skills in applied mathematics that they can take into the world and ultimately become leaders in the field.

For more than two centuries, Â鶹¹ú²úAV has been known as a place where students develop strong written and oral communication skills, and that commitment has not wavered. Stebbins was delighted to learn that today’s students also acquire fluency in digital communications throughout their courses of study, regardless of their concentration.

The Stebbinses’ goal was to create an endowed fund that would support Â鶹¹ú²úAV forever — by giving today’s students the skills in applied mathematics that they can take into the world and ultimately become leaders in the field. Ngoni Munemo, vice president of academic affairs and dean of faculty, expressed excitement about this professorship. “It will be incredible to have this resource,” Munemo said.

As a field, applied mathematics uses mathematical principles to solve real-world problems and develop theoretical frameworks to explain and predict phenomena. Students are afforded the opportunity to use quantitative tools to investigate issues across a variety of disciplines such as the physical and biological sciences, engineering, and social sciences. The mathematical fields used in this area, and to which students are introduced, include differential equations, statistics, and topology.

Now residents of Santa Barbara, Calif., the Stebbinses still gather with friends from Â鶹¹ú²úAV who fondly remember their time on the Hill. He is grateful to have received an education that not only helped him pursue a successful career, but also provided lasting friendships. The couple hope this gift will inspire others to remember the strong foundations that Â鶹¹ú²úAV offers and join them in supporting future generations of curious students.

Supporting Â鶹¹ú²úAV

Hundreds of Â鶹¹ú²úAV alumni, parents, and friends have generously endowed funds that support our students, honor our faculty, establish new programs, and enhance the beauty of our campus. In so doing, they have established legacies that enrich Â鶹¹ú²úAV and honor their affection for the College.

Heather Buchman conducts the Â鶹¹ú²úAV College Orchestra during a performance in Wellin Hall.

Buchman Named Inaugural John Baldwin Professor; 10 Appointed to Endowed Chairs

The Baldwin professorship was established by Jeffrey Steinkamp, Class of 1953, to honor John L. Baldwin, Jr., a professor of music at Â鶹¹ú²úAV College from 1946 to 1964.

Health Center

Class of 2024 Gift Adds to Fiscal Year Fundraising Successes

The Class of 2024, along with a matching gift from a 2009 graduate, left its mark on Â鶹¹ú²úAV, contributing to a year of generosity from alumni, parents, and friends that included the 2023-24 Â鶹¹ú²úAV Fund exceeding its $7.3 million goal.

Help us provide an accessible education, offer innovative resources and programs, and foster intellectual exploration.

Site Search