10-27-2013 03:00 PM

Gerald Ford donates $15M to SMU for research center


SMU received a $15 million donation from longtime supporter and business leader Gerald Ford.




Southern Methodist University is $15 million closer to its goal in an ambitious $1 billion fund-raising campaign, after a commitment from banker and business leader Gerald J. Ford.
Ford's commitment is the lead gift to construct a campus research center to expand advanced computing and interdisciplinary research throughout the university.
The building, called the Gerald J. Ford Research Center, will house the Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute, established in May 2012 through a gift from the Dedman family and foundation.
Technology in the new building will enable SMU’s computing capacity to grow from 2,000 to more than 10,000 CPUs. Other actions to promote research include raising resources for new endowed faculty chairs and other faculty with active research agendas, along with increasing opportunities for undergraduates to conduct real-world research.
In 2003 Ford established the Gerald J. Ford Research Fellows program at SMU, Ford provided the lead gift for the Mustangs’ football stadium in 1997 and he supports student scholarships. Ford is a member of the SMU Board of Trustees, former board chair and currently the convening co-chair of SMU’s Second Century Campaign.
The surprise announcement of Ford’s new commitment was made Oct. 25 at a meeting of leaders and volunteers for SMU’s Second Century Campaign coinciding with the university’s Homecoming Week.
Ford’s new commitment brings to $800 million the total raised to date by SMU’s Second Century Campaign. The university announced in September that it was raising its original goal of $750 million to $1 billion.
Bill covers health care, law and education.


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