Gloria and Michael Chiang (photo courtesy of the Chiangs)
Media contact:
Pat Lopes Harris, SJSU Media Relations, 408-924-1748, pat.harris@sjsu.edu
SAN JOSE, CA — San Jose State University is pleased to announce that it has received a $2.5 million gift commitment from South Bay business leaders Gloria and Michael Chiang. The gift will support scholarships and pre-professional endeavors at the Don and Sally Lucas College and Graduate School of Business. A proud alumna, Gloria Chiang holds two degrees from SJSU.
“On behalf of San Jose State University, I would like to express my profound gratitude to Gloria and Michael Chiang for their generous gift,” said Lucas College and Graduate School of Business Dean Dan Moshavi. “It is especially touching when a graduate expresses gratitude for the wonderful opportunities she has enjoyed by supporting others so they may experience the same.”
Two Full-Ride Scholarships
The Gloria and Michael Chiang Scholarship will provide full-ride, renewable annual scholarships to two undergraduate students majoring in business who have demonstrated academic excellence and financial need. In addition, the Chiangs have committed to providing financial support for the business college’s new Professional and Career Readiness initiative.
“This gift will help us begin to scale touch points so that every student in the college has multiple professional development experiences,” Moshavi said.
From Backpack to Briefcase
The Professional and Career Readiness initiative takes business students from backpack to briefcase through integrated curricular and co-curricular offerings that enhance their professional and soft skills. Examples include business etiquette and job search skills.
“Gloria and Michael Chiang’s gift to the endowment fund managed by the Tower Foundation of San Jose State University will enhance our ability to provide consistent and lasting support for our students as they prepare to enter the workforce and contribute to our community and the world beyond,” said Vice President for Advancement and Tower Foundation CEO Paul Lanning.
Outstanding Student, Proud Alumna
Gloria Chiang earned a bachelor’s in business administration in 1978 and an M.B.A. in 1979 from SJSU. An excellent student, she was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.
“I was lucky enough to have attended SJSU when tuition was free, and I realize how expensive it is nowadays to go to college, especially after my experience with helping a niece through her graduate degrees. I think even student loans are outrageously expensive and onerous,” Gloria Chiang said.
“We are delighted to have this opportunity to establish a scholarship fund at the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business. Being able to be in a position to help some deserving students attain their goals in college gives me and my husband great satisfaction,” she continued.
Chiang went on to a successful career in business and banking before serving as chief financial officer for DKB Homes and Charles W. Davidson Co. In addition, she serves as president of the Davidson Family Foundation.
All three organizations were founded by real estate developer Charles W. Davidson, himself an SJSU graduate. Davidson earned a bachelor’s in civil engineering in 1957, and made a $15 million gift to SJSU in 2007. The College of Engineering was named in his honor.
About San Jose State University
The founding campus of the 23-campus California State University system, San José State provides a comprehensive university education, granting bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in 250 areas of study – offered through its eight colleges.
With more than 33,000 students and nearly 4,370 employees, San José State University continues to be an essential partner in the economic, cultural and social development of Silicon Valley and the state, annually contributing 10,000 graduates to the workforce.
The university is immensely proud of the accomplishments of its more than 260,000 alumni, 60 percent of whom live and work in the Bay Area.