EMMA PIRHALA / NEWS EDITOR

Last month, at USD’s annual Founders Gala celebrating the University’s 75th anniversary, USD Board of Trustees Chair Emerita Darlene Marcos Shiley announced a gift of $75 million towards USD’s STEM education. Not only is the donation the largest in University history, but the pledge also marks the largest donation given to any Catholic university in the United States. 

Shiley has been a staunch supporter of the University for many years, serving on the Board of Trustees and donating funds with her late husband Donald P. Shiley. In the past, the pair offered support for the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering (SMSE), resulting in the Donald P. Shiley Center for Science and Technology and the Shiley Theatre. However, the couple’s impact does not stop there, as the $75 million contribution intends to bolster STEM education by launching the Shiley STEM Initiative.

The new program will support STEM education at USD by launching new majors, minors and certificates, as well as introducing greater collaboration between engineering and the natural sciences. The gift will also lead to the development of more collaborative classrooms, Maker Spaces, machine shops and resources specific to biomedical engineering. The STEM Initiative page on the USD website added that the gift will also support additional scholarships and fellowships for students interested in research. Greater research opportunities are also planned to be added, allowing students to begin research the summer prior to their first year at USD. 

USD sophomore Michelle Graeber is one of many mechanical engineering students living on campus. Graeber expressed her excitement and gratitude for the gift. 

“I’m so grateful for Mrs. Shiley’s generous donation and excited about everything the Shiley STEM Initiative will bring to SMSE. I’ve had such great experiences with the professors here, and I love that this will help strengthen those connections through more research opportunities. I’m especially looking forward to the new Maker Spaces and labs — it’s going to be amazing to have more hands-on learning and increased resources for innovation with STEM clubs, classes and students alike.”

Another mechanical engineering student, USD sophomore Ignacy Wozniak shared similar sentiments as Graeber, noting his excitement for increased research on campus. 

“I am about to do research abroad and I hope that the donation will help finance experiences like this for other students, who may not have the resources to conduct research out of the country,” Wozniak stated. 

While Shileys’ generosity will primarily expand USD’s STEM programs, it will also benefit other programs at USD. Shiley’s generosity will also benefit the arts by continuing to support the Donald P. and Darlene M. Shiley Master of Fine Arts (MFA). The MFA program has risen to be considered one of the top in the nation, as designated by The Hollywood Reporter. 

The gift will also continue the couple’s devotion to military-connected students by expanding the University’s ability to support such students. 

Darlene and Donald Shiley pictured prior to his death in 2010. Photo courtesy of USDtv

In response to Shiley’s transformational gift, President James T. Harris III recognized her and her late husband for their longstanding commitment to the University. 

“Darlene Shiley is one of the most generous and kind individuals that anyone could ever meet,” Harris said. “She’s always looking out for humanity and the best interests of our society, and she particularly loves our students. 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.”

The    Shileys  have a long history of philanthropy in the San Diego region, donating to a multitude of causes and organizations. Yet, education remains a key priority to the philanthropic pair. Darlene Shiley explained her love for learning in a quote published on the USD website. 

“Both Donald and myself came from poor backgrounds,” Shiley stated. “But we learned at a very early age that education was the way to move forward. You’re not going to go any place if you don’t get educated and prepare yourself for what the world has out there.”

Donald P. Shiley garnered his wealth from his invention with the Björk-Shiley prosthetic heart valve which was utilized in the 1970s. Shiley later sold his company, Shiley Laboratories, to Pfizer which led to an influx of wealth. With his wealth, he was devoted to donating his entire estate  to  charitable  organizations. 

USD students await the impact of the recent contribution, and plans to implement the generosity of Darlene Shiley are expected to commence soon as the new year starts. The launch of the Shiley STEM Initiative is expected to create transformational opportunities for students in the upcoming years, propelling USD into the limelight. 

The historic gift was announced at the annual Founders Gala celebrating the University’s 75th anniversary. Photo courtesy of USDtv