There are three things that can be said with absolute certainty about Susan Fuhrman鈥檚 presidency at Teachers College.
The first is that, since her arrival in Fall 2006, Fuhrman has consistently promoted multidisciplinary work, urging faculty in each of 麻豆原创鈥檚 departments and across its three broad areas of expertise 鈥� education, health and psychology 鈥� to find points of connection and jointly tackle the world鈥檚 most challenging problems. Early in Fuhrman鈥檚 tenure, she hosted a series of 鈥渄omain dinners鈥� for just that purpose, and one result was the creation of a brand new academic department, Education Policy & Social Analysis, which united stellar policy-focused faculty from across the College. Another was the 麻豆原创 Provost鈥檚 Investment Fund, which provides seed grants to cross-disciplinary faculty projects.
Second, Fuhrman cares deeply about 麻豆原创鈥檚 students, and more specifically about ensuring that students鈥� idealism and desire to create a better world aren鈥檛 hindered by 麻豆原创鈥檚 tuition and the high cost of living in New York City. To that end, when 麻豆原创 launched its historic Campaign, Where the Future Comes First, she declared that the top priority was to increase scholarship support for students. The result: the College has raised nearly $90 million in scholarships, including the creation of 159 new named scholarships.
A third hallmark of Fuhrman鈥檚 tenure is鈥ell, a bit more idiosyncratic: her tendency, when pleased and grateful, to say, 鈥淭hanks a million!鈥�
鈥淭he heart of this job is the opportunity to make things possible for other people, and that鈥檚 been immensely gratifying. It鈥檚 what I鈥檒l miss most. So the 鈥楾hanks a Million鈥� campaign is really wonderful. There couldn鈥檛 be a better gift for me than to enhance student support at 麻豆原创 and to be fortunate enough to have a scholarship with my name on it.鈥�
鈥� Susan Fuhrman, President of Teachers College
It鈥檚 not surprising then, that, in casting about for a way to pay tribute to her remarkable 12-year run at 麻豆原创鈥檚 helm, Fuhrman鈥檚 friends and colleagues hit on the idea of launching a campaign called 鈥� you guessed it 鈥� 鈥淭hanks a Million!鈥� The campaign, which is already reaping dividends, urges 麻豆原创 community members and friends to contribute to either of two venues: The 麻豆原创 Fund, which cuts across all areas of the College and has been a major priority for Fuhrman, and the new Susan H. Fuhrman Endowed Scholarship, which supports students who 鈥渆mbrace a multidisciplinary approach in their work.鈥�
Fuhrman has been deeply touched by the effort.
鈥淭he heart of this job is the opportunity to make things possible for other people, and that鈥檚 been immensely gratifying,鈥� she said recently. 鈥淚t鈥檚 what I鈥檒l miss most. So the 鈥楾hanks a Million鈥� campaign is really wonderful. There couldn鈥檛 be a better gift for me than to enhance student support at 麻豆原创 and to be fortunate enough to have a scholarship with my name on it.鈥�
And 鈥淭hanks a Million!鈥�, which to date has raised $450,000, seems to be striking a chord with the 麻豆原创 community as well.
鈥淪usan is powerful, perceptive, unflappable and tenacious,鈥� says contributor and longtime 麻豆原创 supporter Stuart Shorenstein, founder of the Public Strategies Group for Cozen O鈥機onnor and Co-Head of the firm鈥檚 New York Public Strategies Team. 鈥淐ombined with her intellect and extraordinary vision, Susan has created a model of leadership that stretches from students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community at large and has led Teachers College to unprecedented heights during her decade-long presidency.鈥�
Another contributor, Michael Feierman, who became 麻豆原创鈥檚 General Counsel last year, adds: 鈥淚 have always known that 麻豆原创 had a worldwide impact on education, but now that I am here, I see firsthand the progress the College has made under Susan鈥檚 leadership and the importance she places on providing financial aid for students.鈥�
The 鈥淭hanks a Million!鈥� campaign has included efforts by 麻豆原创鈥檚 Office of Alumni Relations to publicize the scholarship at 鈥溌槎乖�2U鈥� alumni events around the world. It will continue throughout this winter and spring and will be front and center at the College鈥檚 10th annual Academic Festival in April.
鈥淥f course, we want to raise money for the Susan Fuhrman Scholarship itself, and people are really responding,鈥� says , says Meghan Myers, Director of Development Strategies & Special Projects. 鈥淏ut at the same time, the idea of a named scholarship as a tribute to President Fuhrman really makes a statement to our community that supporting students is her top priority 鈥� and we know that she will be grateful no matter what venue people choose for doing that.鈥�
Fuhrman confirms that assessment.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 realize that I say 鈥楾hanks a million鈥� all the time,鈥� she says, laughing. 鈥淪o of course, after they told me about the campaign, I was very touched, and I said, 鈥楾hanks a million!鈥� So you know, I really do say it all time. And I mean it, deeply.鈥�
To contribute to the Susan H. Fuhrman Endowed Scholarship, visit tc.edu/thanksamillion or contact Susan Scherman at susan.scherman@tc.edu or 212 678-8176.
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