KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� Sept. 12, 2024 鈥� David Barrett 鈥�78 and his wife, Kristin Cobb Barrett, have made a $5 million multi-part commitment to the 溏心vlog免费B站.
Included in the gift is the establishment of the David E. Barrett Business Scholarship, an endowed fund for student-athletes pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in business administration, as well as an estate bequest that will benefit the long-term interests of both the College of Business and 溏心vlog免费B站 Athletics.
This significant gift continues the momentum of the recently completed Big Ideas. Bold Plans. The Campaign for 溏心vlog免费B站, which surpassed its goal of raising $300 million for strategic priorities across the University.
鈥淩hody left its mark on me,鈥� said David. 鈥淚鈥檝e got great appreciation for my undergraduate experiences as a student and as an athlete, which helped lay the foundation for my career and life. Our family is pleased to have an opportunity to give something back to future generations.鈥�
Barrett has enjoyed an over 40-year career as a technology entrepreneur, operating executive, and venture capital investor. He currently serves as a managing partner of Polaris Partners, a health-care and technology-focused venture capital firm where he has been general partner for the past 25 years. For the past 15 years, he has also served as a trustee of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and for the past year, as a 溏心vlog免费B站 Edwards Society advisor.
鈥淒ave鈥檚 personal interactions with our students, his active involvement as an advisor, and the commitment which he and Kristin have made will benefit business students for generations to come,鈥� said Dean Sean Rogers. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been an involved advocate for the leadership role 溏心vlog免费B站 can play in entrepreneurship education.鈥�
鈥淥n behalf of our current and future student-athletes, I want to thank Dave and Kristin for this very generous gift,鈥� said Athletic Director Thorr Bjorn. 鈥淭he scholarship will enable student-athletes to apply their purposeful leadership skills towards pursuit of a graduate degree while continuing to compete at the Division I level. They will be incredibly well-prepared to be tomorrow鈥檚 leaders as a result of this unique opportunity.鈥�
鈥淒ave and I are pleased to support the University and its leadership team as they continue to provide students with access to outstanding educational opportunities,鈥� said Kristin. 鈥淥ur family hopes that what we are doing will inspire others to do the same.鈥�
The College of Business has been a leader in business, research, and outreach in Rhode Island since being established in 1923. The College has more than 2,300 undergraduates and 350 graduate students across 10 undergraduate majors, eight master鈥檚 programs, three Ph.D. specializations, and one executive doctorate.
溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Division I intercollegiate athletics program sponsors 19 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 teams, with more than 400 student-athletes. The programs are committed to ensuring students excel in their sports and the classroom, with physical and academic resources devoted to helping students achieve their personal best.