Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) has received an anonymous donation to support and advance the College of Psychology and Counseling. The $6 million contribution represents the largest single commitment in FDU’s history and is expected to have a lasting impact on students, faculty, and the broader community.
“This remarkable commitment reflects a deep belief in the power of education to transform lives and communities,” said Michael J. Avaltroni, president of Fairleigh Dickinson University.
“On behalf of the entire University, I extend my profound gratitude to our generous donor for this visionary and selfless investment. By honoring Marion Turpan’s legacy, this gift will expand opportunities for our students, strengthen our academic programs, and help ensure that future generations of practitioners and scholars are prepared to lead with both innovation and humanity,” Avaltroni said.
In recognition of the gift, FDU will name the College of Psychology and Counseling in honor of the late alumna Marion Turpan and her lifelong commitment to education.
The same anonymous donor pledged $1 million earlier, a gift that honored Marion Turpan’s son and fellow FDU alumnus Dennis Turpan, BS ’71 (Metro). The funds established the Dennis Turpan Research and Development Lab for Cutting‑edge Technologies and Disciplines in Becton Hall, allowing for a dedicated space, graduate student research, and scholarships within the College of Psychology and Counseling.
Marion Turpan’s Impact
Turpan began her academic career at Fairleigh Dickinson in the 1960s, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and graduating with honors. She later earned a doctorate in psychology.
She returned to the university as a faculty member and, after her teaching career, transitioned into real estate.
In 1979, Turpan donated the cherry trees located in front of the Kron Administration Building on the Metropolitan Campus in memory of her mother, Lucille Najar, establishing a tradition of philanthropy that has continued across generations.
Innovation and Humanics Hub
The gift also establishes the Marion Turpan Innovation and Humanics Hub, an interdisciplinary space to be located on the first floor of Dickinson Hall on the Metropolitan Campus. The hub will support programs in psychology, counseling, nursing, and related health and health-adjacent disciplines, serving as a central hub for training and collaboration at the intersection of technology, health, and human connection.
The Marion Turpan Innovation and Humanics Hub is expected to open in early 2027 and will serve as a cornerstone of the University’s efforts to integrate technological advancement with essential human skills, including empathy, creativity, and critical thinking.
“The key question for the new hub,” Avaltroni added, “is how do we prepare students to remain deeply human in a technology-driven world.”
Educating Future Mental Health Professionals
Students in the College of Psychology and Counseling pursue careers as clinicians, researchers, educators, and leaders. The college, part of the FDU Health division, offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in clinical psychology, school psychology, clinical mental health counseling, clinical forensic psychology, general theoretical psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, and clinical psychopharmacology. The college also operates a low-cost community mental health clinic.
The donor’s contribution will support scholarships and fellowships; expand professional development opportunities and academic offerings; increase faculty resources; enhance mental health services and training; strengthen programs in character, leadership, empathy, and mental health stigma; and fund capital improvements within the college.