FGCU celebrates the largest donation in the institution’s history – $22M

Florida Gulf Coast University is celebrating the Elaine Nicpon Marieb Charitable Foundation’s commitment of more than $22 million toward the development of cutting-edge instructional technology at FGCU’s Marieb College of Health & Human Services. The largest donation in the university’s history, this pledge will span nine years.

“This is a defining moment for Florida Gulf Coast University and the Marieb College of Health & Human Services – one that elevates the trajectory of FGCU for generations to come. This gift directly translates into expanded opportunities for our students, faculty and research, and it will strengthen the future of healthcare in the Southwest Florida community and beyond,” said President Aysegul Timur.

This gift follows Elaine Nicpon Marieb’s generous commitment of more than $17 million to FGCU between 2011 and 2022, in recognition of which the college and Marieb Hall bear her name. Today’s announcement brings the total contributions made to the university by Marieb and her foundation to $39 million.

“Elaine Marieb created her own legacy first as a lifetime student, a teacher and an author and lastly a philanthropist. The Marieb Foundation strives to expand and enhance her legacy through the collaborative efforts with FGCU,” said Martin M. Wasmer, Marieb Foundation trustee. “In addition to Elaine Marieb’s passion to help others achieve personal success through education, it is our hope that we can also help expand the capabilities of FGCU to develop innovative ways to enhance learning experiences. We believe that this gift and our collaboration with FGCU provides the resources and directive to achieve these goals.”

“With the visionary leadership of FGCU President Dr. Aysegul Timur and Marieb College Dean Shawn Felton, the Marieb Foundation sees a tremendous opportunity to further Dr. Marieb’s legacy,” said Libby R. McHugh, Marieb Foundation trustee. “This gift strengthens our shared mission to advance technology, improve the delivery of education and expand the capacity to train healthcare professionals. We are honored to support the continued innovation that will shape the next generation of caregivers and healthcare leaders.”

“The support by the late Dr. Marieb and the foundation is transformative.  The commitments have forever changed the trajectory of our college, allowing Florida Gulf Coast University to become a regional leader in healthcare education. Through this latest gift, we will expand on our technological advances, ensuring our students are equipped with the very latest knowledge needed to excel in this fast-paced and advanced world and further expand Dr. Marieb’s legacy,” said Shawn Felton, dean of Marieb College.

Marieb died in 2018, but her generous legacy of giving has enabled the continued growth of Marieb College and sustained success of 2,500 students each year in 15 degree programs spanning nursing, social work, rehabilitation sciences, health science and counseling. The college’s state-of-the-art facility currently supports extensive simulation laboratories, top-of-the-line rehabilitation equipment and holographic technology, giving students the hands-on learning and skills they need to succeed outside the classroom.

That success has translated into 100% first-time licensure pass rates in six healthcare programs. These include the college’s School of Nursing, where for the second consecutive year, graduating students achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination of Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Overall, nearly 100% of Marieb graduates are employed within six months of graduation.

The latest donation will also provide naming rights for Academic Building 10, an expansion of Marieb College. Construction of that building is set to begin in fall 2026.

About FGCU:

Located south of Fort Myers and north of Naples on the Southwest Florida coast, Florida Gulf Coast University encompasses 800 acres on which academic buildings, residence halls and athletics facilities share space with wetlands, pinewoods and boardwalks in a natural setting. FGCU serves 16,000 students and offers more than 95 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It emphasizes a university-wide commitment to sustainability and service-learning, with students having completed more than 5 million hours of service since the university opened in 1997. With six colleges, FGCU is committed to serving Southwest Florida with academic programs designed to meet the workforce demands of the five-county region. To learn more about FGCU, visit www.fgcu.edu.

About the Elaine Nicpon Marieb Charitable Foundation:

Dr. Elaine Nicpon Marieb was a visionary scholar, educator, and philanthropist whose contributions to higher education continue to shape the academic and healthcare landscapes. A distinguished author, Dr. Marieb transformed the study of anatomy and physiology, ensuring that generations of healthcare professionals worldwide received an engaging and comprehensive foundation in the sciences. Her dedication to student-centered learning led her to author and co-author over 10 best-selling textbooks, influencing more than 3,000 classrooms globally and earning her recognition among the most-read female authors in college courses.

Beyond her contributions as an educator, Dr. Marieb embodied generosity and foresight through her philanthropic endeavors. She committed nearly her entire fortune to advancing education and healthcare training, pledging millions to institutions such as Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), Holyoke Community College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her legacy lives on in the Marieb College of Health & Human Services at FGCU and other academic facilities bearing her name, providing state-of-the-art learning environments for students and faculty alike.

The Elaine Nicpon Marieb Foundation, founded on Dr. Marieb’s steadfast belief that education is a powerful catalyst for independence, the foundation assists adult women in furthering their education and careers. Dr. Marieb’s philanthropic spirit and academic excellence will continue to uplift lives for generations to come. Through the foundation, her vision of fostering resilience, education, and opportunity remains steadfast, ensuring that students and families benefit from her generosity and unwavering dedication to learning.