New Funds Supporting International Students, Advancing Equity at Emerson

Three new funds created last year have raised nearly $400,000 in gifts and pledges to support international students, increase student access to study abroad, and help advance equity at Emerson.

“Collectively, these funds underscore the College’s intentionality and institutional commitment to internationalization, equity, access and social justice,” said Tony Pinder, Vice Provost, Internationalization and Equity.

The funds launched in February 2022 offer donors the opportunity to invest in the development of future global change agents and creative leaders.

• $326,937 in gifts and pledges have been donated to the Internationalization and Equity Fund to support new and existing programs that lift up the voices of marginalized students and faculty, and help faculty integrate international perspectives and ideas into curriculum.  
• $61,128 in gifts and pledges have been donated to the International Student Assistance Fund to help ensure that international students who are met with financial hardships don’t need to withdraw from Emerson before completing their degrees.
• $8,998 has been donated to the Education Abroad Assistance Fund to help increase studying abroad opportunities for students needing financial help.
  
  Pinder said the funds are being used to support scholarships for education abroad and other global learning opportunities for Emerson students, as well as developing co-curricular programming with equity, access, and social justice at the center.

“Emerson has invested quite heavily in developing robust international education programming, supporting its international student population, and in reimagining how equity is defined at the College,” said Pinder. “This work continues to evolve. The funds have begun to garner and generate critical additional financial support in these referenced areas, offering donors the opportunity to invest in the development of future global change agents and creative leaders.”

He added that the establishment of the three funds, and subsequent gifts and pledges, also underscores the successful work and collaboration between the Offices of Internationalization & Equity and Institutional Advancement. It exemplifies Emerson’s major gifts officers’ dedication to international philanthropy.

As an example, Pinder highlighted the work of Stanley Onuoha, director of parent and international philanthropy, which resulted in a six-figure gift to the Internationalization and Equity Fund from parent-donor Ramsey Frank, Sr. That gift funded the College’s recent Teach-in on Race series that featured award-winning actor and educator Anna Deavere Smith.

“Emerson is one of a few institutions that has taken a decisive look at the alignment and intersection of internationalization and equity,” said Pinder. “We are hopeful for the future and the college’s commitment to continued success in Internationalization and Equity and look forward to more success and support to serve our students all over the globe.”