麻豆传媒映画

麻豆传媒映画 alumnus and Workday Chief Financial Officer Zane Rowe (鈥�92) was among the thousands of donors who contributed to a record-breaking year of philanthropy at 麻豆传媒映画.

During fiscal year 2025-26, donors contributed $179.3 million to support students, faculty, research and other university priorities, including $53.7 million for KPBS radio and television public broadcasting stations, up from $30 million the previous year. The increase came in part as donors responded to cuts in federal funding affecting public broadcasting. Overall, 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 fundraising total represented a 26% increase over the previous year, when the university raised $142.2 million.

鈥淭he growth in our donor community reflects the strong connection people feel to 麻豆传媒映画,鈥� said Adrienne Vargas, vice president for University Relations and Development. 鈥淎lumni, friends and partners are choosing to invest in the university and in opportunities for our students, faculty and researchers. Their generosity is helping us meet today鈥檚 needs while building momentum for 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 future.鈥�

From experience to opportunity

For Rowe, his own experience at 麻豆传媒映画 shaped the way he chose to give.

After earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in aviation business administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Rowe pursued his MBA in finance at 麻豆传媒映画. He connected with the energy on campus, the Fowler College of Business鈥� reputation and the university鈥檚 ties to the broader San Diego community.

鈥淭he incredible mix of people and the power of experiential learning both stand out,鈥� said Rowe. 鈥淕etting into a room with people from such different backgrounds and figuring out how to approach a complex problem was invaluable.鈥�

Following his MBA, Rowe taught at Embry-Riddle before building a career in business and technology. He said his 麻豆传媒映画 education gave him the breadth and technical depth to move forward with confidence.

Because he understood how instrumental his time at 麻豆传媒映画 had been to his success, Rowe wanted to help ensure that future 麻豆传媒映画 students would not have to let financial barriers stand between them and their education.

鈥淚 strongly believe education democratizes opportunity, and a person鈥檚 ability to learn and succeed shouldn鈥檛 be limited by their financial means,鈥� said Rowe.

Fowler College of Business Dean Dan Moshavi said the gift demonstrates how philanthropy can open doors for students.

鈥淧hilanthropic support like this allows us to provide the experiences that distinguish an outstanding graduate business education鈥攄irect engagement with senior executives, individualized career coaching and mentoring, applied consulting projects and other opportunities that connect classroom learning with the realities of the business world,鈥� said Moshavi.

Sara Van Hoeve, a current Fowler graduate student who was new to San Diego, experienced that impact firsthand. The program provided her with both a professional network and a sense of connection, and the experience was so meaningful that she returned for a second year.

鈥淭he EIR program has been one of the most impactful parts of my MBA so far,鈥� said Van Hoeve. 鈥淚t has provided me with real opportunities to build a professional network, both with fellow students and through networking events with external guests from the San Diego business community.鈥�

A record year for philanthropy

Rowe鈥檚 gift was part of a broader year of philanthropic support across 麻豆传媒映画, including a record-breaking year for Aztec Athletics. The year鈥檚 generosity was reflected in both the amount raised and the growing number of people choosing to invest in the university:

• $179.3 million raised universitywide.
• 14,379 donors, up from 12,754 the previous year
• 6,709 new donors, up from 5,516
• 114 new planned-gift commitments, compared with 99 the previous year
• , a department record, with more than 4,500 donors supporting more than 400 student-athletes

The year鈥檚 significant commitments reflected the breadth of philanthropy at 麻豆传媒映画. Among them were:

• Art Flaming鈥檚 $1.2 million commitment supports men鈥檚 basketball and women鈥檚 athletics while strengthening the existing Art Flaming Baseball Endowment.
• A $2.5 million endowed chair in construction management, supported by the San Diego chapter of Associated General Contractors and its member companies, to help attract and retain faculty working in areas such as construction AI, robotics and other emerging technologies.
• Theresa McCune鈥檚 planned gift, demonstrating how alumni and friends can create a lasting legacy while supporting future educators.
• Support for Guardian Scholars, helping students who have experienced foster care find stability, community and a place to call home.

Together, these gifts support students and faculty today while creating opportunities that will continue to shape 麻豆传媒映画 for generations to come.

To learn more about supporting 麻豆传媒映画, please contact Associate Vice President for University Development Mary Darling at [email protected] or 619-665-2879.