Record-Breaking Pledge to USD Will Transform University’s STEM Programs

The University of San Diego (USD) received a record-breaking pledge from Darlene Marcos Shiley, philanthropist and Chair Emerita of USD’s Board of Trustees, totaling $75 million. It’s the largest gift in university history and among the largest ever given to any Catholic university in the country.

The gift will touch several different areas of USD’s campus, with a primary emphasis on creating what will be known as the ‘Shiley STEM Initiative’, expanding innovative STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs, and funding new, state-of-the-art STEM facilities on USD’s campus.

Shiley’s gift was announced at the university’s Founders Gala tonight celebrating USD’s 75th anniversary, and it will usher in an exciting new era lighting the way forward for students for decades to come.

“Darlene Shiley is one of the most generous and kind individuals that anyone could ever meet. She’s always looking out for humanity and the best interests of our society, and she particularly loves our students,” said USD President James T. Harris III, DEd. “We are a better institution because of Donald and Darlene Shiley and what they’ve decided to do for this institution and what they’ve done for this world. In our vision statement we talk about leading with love, and Donald and Darlene Shiley have always led with love.”

Over the years, Shiley has been a dedicated and prolific supporter of nonprofits around her home of San Diego, and this gift will put a stamp on her and her late husband Donald’s impact on USD and the region. In addition to a number of scholarships and other support for USD, Donald and Darlene Shiley are also the benefactors behind the Shiley Theatre, Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering and Donald P. Shiley Center for Science and Technology, the couple’s first STEM-related contribution to USD.

The Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering and College of Arts and Sciences embody USD’s mission to shape well-rounded leaders with a liberal arts education. Both schools boast impressive alumni in STEM, including two NASA astronauts. This gift will build upon USD’s  commitment to STEM, meet the needs of growing biotechnology and scientific sectors in San Diego, and help train future STEM leaders and researchers.

“STEM fields touch all different aspects of our lives, and I believe they can be a force for good in our society,” Shiley said. “I was drawn to USD because of its emphasis on a values-based education. This gift fulfills my husband’s and my goals and makes me feel like I’ve made an impact. Now I hope it helps future students take what they learn at USD and make a positive impact of their own.”

Shiley’s gift comes at a key time for USD, where the number of students majoring in STEM disciplines has grown by 50 percent in the past decade. USD has met the moment, with a wide-ranging curriculum across 16 STEM degrees. This gift will help expand the university’s STEM offerings by establishing a new integrated STEM space that connects engineering and the natural sciences, as well as expanded opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in research.

Beyond its STEM focus, the pledge will also be directed to other causes close to Shiley’s heart – scholarships and programs benefiting veterans and military connected students, as well as additional funding for the arts through the university’s top ranked MFA in acting, The Old Globe and USD Shiley Graduate Theatre Program.

About the University of San Diego

Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love. With more than 8,000 students from 75 countries and 44 states, USD is among the Top 20 Best Private Schools for Making an Impact according to The Princeton Review. USD’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Knauss School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. In 2021, USD was named a “Laudato Si’ University” by the Vatican with a seven-year commitment to address humanity’s urgent challenges by working together to take care of our common home.