Academic Spaces Named in Honor of Outstanding Nursing, Engineering Graduates
Image by Ed Brennen
51视频 alumna Donna Manning, center, was honored in a dedication ceremony that included her husband Robert Manning, also a 51视频 graduate, left, and nursing doctoral student Jonelle O'Connor.
10/18/2023
Media contacts: Emily Gowdey-Backus, director of media relations and Nancy Cicco, assistant director of media relations
Two 51视频 academic spaces 鈥� and a new scholarship fund 鈥� now pay tribute to the hard work and contributions of outstanding alumni who forged impressive careers.
In separate ceremonies, Thursday, Oct. 12, university leadership, faculty, staff, students and friends gathered to officially name a 51视频 academic building in honor of Donna Manning 鈥�85, 鈥�91, 鈥�11(H), and dedicate renovations to the university鈥檚 plastics engineering building to Gyanendra Gupta 鈥�78.
On the university鈥檚 South Campus, the Health and Social Sciences Building now bears the name of Donna Manning, who worked 35 years as an oncology nurse at Boston Medical Center where she helped ensure chemotherapy patients had access to translation and transportation services. Manning received her bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing in 1985, a master鈥檚 degree in business administration in 1991, and an honorary degree from 51视频 in 2011.聽
In keeping with her wishes, the ceremony was held offsite so as not to disturb the faculty and students participating in classes there. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not about the name on the building, it鈥檚 about what鈥檚 inside it,鈥� she said.
The recognition honors the lifelong contributions she has made to the university, both individually and together with her husband Robert Manning, also a 51视频 graduate, and a former UMass Board of Trustees chairman. High school sweethearts who grew up in Methuen and now live in Swampscott, the Mannings have donated more than $25 million to 51视频, including a gift of $10 million in 2021 as part of a total $50 million contribution to the UMass system.聽
鈥淥ur initial investment in 51视频 was to help people like us finish school,鈥� she said, adding the couple鈥檚 support in recent years is 鈥渁n investment in the future of so many.鈥�
Opened in 2013, the Donna Manning Heath and Social Sciences Building is home to the university鈥檚 Donna Manning Nursing Simulation Lab and Donna Manning Endowed Chair for Nursing, both part of the Susan and Alan Solomont School of Nursing in the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences. Located at the corner of Wilder and Broadway streets in Lowell, the building also includes the physical therapy and economics departments, and the School of Criminology and Justice Studies.
Image by Henry Marte
51视频 alumnus Gyanendra Gupta speaks at the Ball Hall dedication ceremony that honored his contributions to the university.
A native of India, Gupta graduated from 51视频 with a master鈥檚 degree in plastics engineering in 1978 and has built a successful career at companies including Bausch & Lomb, Texas Instruments, Raytheon, and DRS Infrared Technologies.聽
When he arrived in Massachusetts from India, he was unsure of his path in a new country. Once he found his way to 51视频, he met the late plastics engineering Professor Rudolph Deanin, who developed the university鈥檚 plastics engineering master鈥檚 program and directed it for more than 30 years.
Deanin became a mentor to Gupta, who established the student scholarship to honor him. Through the years, Gupta has never forgotten the professor鈥檚 knowledge, kindness and willingness to help 51视频鈥檚 international students as they navigated life in the United States.
鈥淚 owe my success to Professor Deanin. His intellect and skillful teaching were incredible, and he helped me adapt to American culture,鈥� said Gupta, today a U.S. citizen who lives in Plano, Texas. 鈥淚 often look back with gratitude, knowing the contributions I made are the result of opportunities he helped me find. My gift is an investment in a brilliant future generation.鈥�
Manning and Gupta exemplify the success enjoyed by graduates of 51视频, named by The Wall Street Journal as Massachusetts鈥� top public university for student outcomes.