A sculpture in the Engineering Quad near the Wegmans building. Photo by Teddy Almond / News Editor
The Deanship of the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences has a new name in the wake of a $10 million donation from University Trustee Emeritus John Bruning ’24 (Honorary) and Barbara Bruning. The donation is intended to establish permanent funding for the position, according to a University News release. Named Dean in 2016, Wendi Heinzelman will continue in the position now named the John and Barbara Bruning Dean for the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
“For generations to come, the Brunings’ gift will provide stable, dedicated resources to strengthen the Hajim School’s ability to attract and retain distinguished leaders — those who will uphold academic quality, steward resources, and sustain the institution’s mission and culture,” the University wrote.
The donation was made as part of the University’s “For Brilliant Minds” pillar of the “Ever Better” campaign, according to University spokesperson Sara Miller.
John Bruning has served as a member of the University’s Board of Trustees since 2009 and was one of the 2024 recipients of URochester’s Dean’s Medal, designed to recognize “extraordinary service, philanthropy, and leadership” within the School of Arts and Sciences and the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
The Brunings have made philanthropic contributions to the school before. In addition to being awarded the George Eastman Medal in 2011, both John and Barbara Bruning had previously established the David R. Williams Director of the Center for Visual Science.
“We feel very fortunate to make this [deanship] gift,” said John Bruning. “For us, it is a wonderful way to honor someone who deserves it, and we are pleased to know that it will help recruit and retain the best students and faculty.”
Bruning went on to praise Dean Heinzelman, describing her as a “magnificent leader” with whom he has “many personal and professional connections.”
“All endowed gifts are invested and managed by the University in perpetuity. As the investment accumulates earnings, those earnings are spent, while the original gifts are preserved as principal,” University spokesperson Sara Miller explained. “This provides a one-time endowed gift [with] far greater earning power and ensures the gift lasts forever.”
Miller also stressed the importance of long-term endowments, such as that made by the Burnings: “Endowed deanships such as this provide crucial, long-term funding that directly benefits students by helping attract top-tier faculty to the school, and enabling the dean to fund priorities such as research, scholarships, academic resources, and new learning opportunities.”
This article has been updated to reflect further accuracy on endowments. The print edition does not include University Spokesperson Sara Miller’s comments.
