From ce n t u yr dlo- stfig ot ’yadot s s c holarships
Fiscal Year 2025 | University of Utah Endowment Report
full-time freshmen who started in fall 2024 and continued to fall 2025.
Letter from the President 2
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6
The Gift of Time
An endowed scholarship empowers Naomi Rowley to build her legacy and inspire others.
Equation for Excellence
The Warnock Presidential Endowed Chair marks 25 years of advancing research and collaboration in mathematics.
Leading from the Middle
With his wife, Julie, BS ’92, Eric Barlow, BS ’99, turned an injury into impact by endowing a scholarship that helps football players succeed on and off the field. 8
Centuries Strong
From century-old gifts to today’s scholarships, the enduring power of endowments continues to transform lives. 10
14
When Gratitude Inspires Giving
Endowed funds preserve a legacy of impact sparked by a doctor-patient bond.
Community Connection
The Mordecai Family Endowment for Connect2Health empowers future health care workers through service. 16
Honoring a Vision
Alayne Markland, the new D. Keith Barnes, MD, and Ida May “Dotty” Barnes, RN, Presidential Endowed Chair, talks about her vision for the future. 18
All Heart
Enduring Support from the Nora Eccles Treadwell Foundation Fuels Landmark Heart Failure Discovery. 20
Planting a Legacy
The Dumke family ensures that the roots of endowed funds will result in everlasting blooms. 22
The Veterans Support Center
The Izzi Wagner Legacy Fund ensures veteran and military-connected students have the support they need. 24
Beyond the Classroom
Students experience real-world learning opportunities thanks to a mining engineering endowment. 28
...AND STILL CLIMBING
This year has been a special one: the 175th anniversary of the University of Utah. Throughout the year, we’ve celebrated how far we’ve come and reflected with gratitude on the visionaries whose generosity transformed a frontier academy into the state’s flagship institution of higher education. From our earliest days, the U has been defined by individuals like you who believe in the transformative power of education and investing in its future.
Endowments are the living legacy of that belief. They sustain the discovery, creativity, and service that shape every corner of our campus. In the stories that follow, you’ll meet those who embody this enduring spirit—people whose generosity through the gift of endowment has opened doors for more than 600 students and alumni, built a community for active-duty and veteran students, nurtured Red
Butte Garden & Arboretum into a world-renowned destination, and so much more. You’ll also meet the beneficiaries of these funds— students, researchers, and community members whose lives and work have been transformed by the opportunities endowed support makes possible.
As we continue to celebrate 175 years, we stand on the shoulders of those who have given generously so that others may learn, grow, and lead. Your commitment to the U makes possible not only today’s achievements but tomorrow’s breakthroughs. On behalf of our students, faculty, and staff, thank you for all you do to advance the U’s mission and shape the lives of those who call this place home.
With gratitude,
Taylor R. Randall President, University of Utah
The Steven C. and Mercy Grimes Endowed Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to students majoring in linguistics, with a preference given toward students coming from single parent households or students who are single parents themselves.
Established 2022 Edward Rivas Endowed Scholarship
In honor of Edward Rivas, the son of Mercy Grimes, this scholarship is awarded to students pursuing a degree in Spanish.
Established 2023
The Gift of Time
An endowed scholarship empowers Naomi Rowley to build her legacy and inspire others.
BY EDWARD WEINMAN
Scholarships endowed by Mercy Grimes have provided Naomi Rowley with a valuable commodity: time.
The Steven C. and Mercy Grimes Endowed Scholarship in Linguistics, established in 2022, and the Edward Rivas Endowed Scholarship in the Department of World Languages and Cultures in the College of Humanities, established in 2023, have empowered this first-generation student to study for her college degree without having to juggle multiple jobs.
“Time is the most limited resource,” says Naomi, a double major in Spanish and linguistics. “The scholarships have removed this obstacle, allowing me to study and conduct research without the constant pressure of earning money.
“Without them, I’d have to work a second or third job,” says Naomi, who’s also working toward her ESL certificate.
Naomi is taking full advantage of her time, dedicating herself to her academic pursuits with one eye on graduate school and her career as an ESL teacher.
“I’m on campus from nine in the morning until nine at night,” she says. “I have the freedom to delve into advanced research within the linguistics department studying the phonology of Bolognese, a language spoken in Italy. I also have time to apply for graduate school and do my practicum for ESL.”
The endowed scholarships, which were established in honor of Mercy’s husband, Steven, and son, Edward, hold further meaning, as they also reflect Naomi’s abiding
love for her own family. Her passion for serving the community was inspired by her mother’s journey.
“My mom came to the US and didn’t speak any English when she arrived, so in high school I taught English to people studying for their citizenship exams, and in doing so discovered that I was passionate about language and teaching,” she says.
Naomi’s commitment to education extends beyond her own studies; she sees it as a powerful tool for positive change. As a future ESL teacher, she wants to create an encouraging environment for her students.
“Sometimes people who don’t know English feel they aren’t able to gain proficiency in the language. As a teacher, I want to help these students see they have the potential to learn English and fulfill their dreams,” Naomi says.
Ultimately, these scholarships have given Naomi the opportunity to inspire those around her, including her younger brother and her parents.
“I have a younger brother who has started college after seeing me in school,” Naomi says. “He appreciates what I’ve done. My parents are now considering pursuing their associate degrees after seeing my progress.”
This ripple effect is a source of great pride. Through her hard work, Naomi’s not just inspiring her family; she’s building her legacy.
“Language doesn’t have to be a barrier for first-generation students,” she says.
“With help, students will see an academic environment can be a welcoming space.” ■
Naomi Rowley is the recipient of The Steven C. and Mercy Grimes Endowed Scholarship in Linguistics and the Edward Rivas Endowed Scholarship in the Department of World Languages and Cultures in the College of Humanities.
“I want to help these students see they have the potential to learn English and fulfill their dreams.”
The John E. and Marva M.
Warnock Presidential Endowed Chair for Faculty Development in Mathematics
This presidential endowed chair has a major and everlasting effect on the Department of Mathematics by attracting creative mathematicians of unusual promise in the early stage of their careers. It provides the conditions under which generations of young faculty scholars can flourish, discover, and innovate, fostering the continual advancement of mathematics.
Established 2000
Equation for Excellence
The
Warnock Presidential Endowed Chair marks 25 years of advancing research and collaboration in mathematics.
BY AUDREY MAYNARD
When John, BS ’61, MS ’64, PhD ’69 and Marva, BS ’66, Warnock created The John E. and Marva M. Warnock Presidential Endowed Chair for Faculty Development in Mathematics , they envisioned a catalyst for innovation at the University of Utah—empowering earlycareer faculty to take bold intellectual risks, forge new collaborations, and pursue ideas that push the boundaries of discovery.
Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Warnock Chair recognizes excellence and serves as one of the highest honors conferred on faculty in the Department of Mathematics. Among its recipients is William Feldman, PhD, an assistant professor of mathematics, who recently completed a five-year term as chair.
“When I was considering job offers, the Warnock Chair gave me confidence that the University of Utah was a place that wanted me to succeed,” he says. “It came with a significantly larger startup fund than most institutions, and that support made it possible to begin my research program immediately.”
Will, who received his PhD in mathematics from UCLA and previously served as the L.E. Dickson instructor in the University of Chicago mathematics department, explores the mathematics of interfaces between phases of matter, ranging from the movement of droplets of
water across surfaces to the formation of cracks in solids. Support from the endowed chair enabled him to hire postdoctoral researchers and graduate students, travel to national conferences, sponsor summer research, and host seminar speakers—all of which have been vital to building a collaborative research environment.
“In math, progress is made through interaction,” Will says. “We don’t necessarily need costly lab equipment, but we do need excellent people. Undergrad students, graduate students, postdocs, and visiting speakers are all essential to building a strong research community. Together, we can accomplish a lot more than we can achieve alone.”
This spirit of intellectual community echoes the Warnocks’ own legacy. A University of Utah graduate with multiple degrees in mathematics and computer science, the late John Warnock went on to revolutionize digital publishing by co-founding Adobe Systems. His success stands as a testament to the university’s capacity to nurture innovators whose ideas shape global industries.
“John Warnock is a local example of what training in mathematics can do for the world,” Will says. “I’m honored to be connected to his legacy and hope to pass on to my students all the possibilities available to them when they pursue math.” ■
The Eric and Julie Barlow Endowed Scholarship Fund for Utah Football
This scholarship helps defray the cost of education for student athletes, and preference is given to defensive players on the men’s football team.
Established 2008
Leading from the Middle
With his wife, Julie, BS ’92, Eric Barlow, BS ’99, turned an injury into impact by endowing a scholarship that helps football players succeed on and off the field.
BY AUTUMN THATCHER
Football has always been a throughline in Eric Barlow’s life. A former middle linebacker—and die-hard Utah fan— Eric played the sport all the way through his early days of college at Utah Tech University (formerly Dixie State University), where he sustained a career-ending injury before transferring to the University of Utah.
“It was a little crazy, but things happen for a reason,” Eric says. “That injury ended up being a blessing.”
The sentiment reflects the way Eric approaches life—working hard and finding opportunity in every situation. It’s a core value that inspired him and his wife, Julie, to establish The Eric and Julie Barlow Endowed Scholarship Fund for Utah Football in 2008, supporting studentathlete scholarships. Since then, the fund has helped many players, several of whom remain in touch with Eric and his family.
“If you are going to be successful in any part of life, you have to find something that you want to become great at and put everything into it,” Eric says. “These athletes work extremely hard, and few to almost none of them will have a career in sports, but education lasts a whole lifetime—that’s the important part.”
Eric’s own experience as a competitive athlete helped him realize early the benefits team sports can offer. Athletes must learn the principles of collaboration and
overcoming conflict for the greater good. They have to learn how to deal with defeat, failure on the field, and the downside of injuries. But, Eric noted, they do all of this together.
“It’s not about you, it’s not about what you want. It’s about what is right for the team and how you best execute with your talents and abilities to help this group of people that you’ve grown to love,” Eric says. “Student-athletes come out of that experience with education and the work ethic and ability to go attack life.”
Education paired with these skill sets, Eric explains, helps set a course for success regardless of the path student-athletes end up taking. Over the years, Eric has had the opportunity to connect with and mentor many of the recipients of the endowed scholarship, forging meaningful relationships that have allowed him to give of his time and expertise as a financial advisor, mentoring athletes as they navigate their careers both in college and long after.
“It’s one thing to give money. That’s the easy side of it,” Eric says. “It’s another thing to give of your time and talents to make a difference. Giving in the way I have chosen to do, it creates the opportunity to reach these great young men through football. Helping young people who want an education is certainly one of those ways that you can make a difference in the world.” ■
“Helping young people who want an education is certainly one of those ways that you can make a difference in the world.”
Eric and Julie Barlow met at a Utah home game while attending the U. Throughout nearly 35 years of marriage, they have remained faithful Utah fans, raising money for the Crimson Club, traveling to away games, establishing The Eric and Julie Barlow Endowed Scholarship Fund for Football, and mentoring student-athletes along the way.
CENTURIES STRONG
From century-old gifts to today’s scholarships, the enduring power of endowments continues to transform lives.
BY AUDREY MAYNARD
In June 1895, Ellen Christina Steffensen was one of 48 people—22 of them women—to graduate from the University of Utah. Ellen was the daughter of Norwegian immigrants who trekked across the Great Plains in the 1860s to lay down roots in the Salt Lake Valley. Her hardscrabble upbringing forged within her a perseverance and grit that would define her life as a wife, mother, and homesteader. As the second wife of George M. Cannon, Ellen largely raised their 10 children on her own, instilling in them a deep sense of selfreliance and individual purpose.
At her core, Ellen was an educator. In the years after graduating from the U, she worked as a primary school teacher. And when she became a mother, she worked tirelessly to ensure that each of her children—the nine who survived to adulthood—earned a college degree.
“Grandmother was in the ‘potential business’,” says Tony Cannon, Jr., Ellen’s late grandson who shared her story in a video retrospective produced
by the university. “It was important that all of her boys and girls fulfilled their potential, and she would say, ‘Be your best. Work your hardest. Help the most.’”
This ethos echoed loudly through generations of the Steffensen Cannon family. In 1989, Tony’s uncle, Hugh Steffensen Cannon, approached him with an idea to honor their matriarch’s legacy through an endowment at the U. Hugh donated $3 million to establish the Ellen Christina Steffensen Cannon Endowed Scholarship Fund, one of the largest scholarship gifts to the university at that time. Since then, more than 600 undergraduate and graduate students
Ellen Christina Steffenson Cannon
pursuing degrees in education and the humanities have received support from this prestigious award.
“Endowed fellowships and scholarships are one of the most impactful ways for individuals and families to establish a legacy that perpetuates their lived values or those of their loved ones,” says Darryl Butt, PhD, dean of the graduate school.
“The more than 600 Ellen Christina Steffensen Cannon awards that have been given over the past 35 years have impacted not only the lives of the students who received them, but many more through the impact of their subsequent interactions and productive careers. The family’s generosity will continue to impact the lives of University of Utah students and alumni in an almost exponential way.”
At the annual Steffensen Cannon Scholarship Luncheon in September, current recipients expressed gratitude for the investment made in their education, including Megan McCormick, a junior majoring in educational psychology and ethnic studies.
“I didn’t expect both the event and the scholarship to be this personal,” Megan says. “The family made me feel like they are genuinely invested in my success and devoted to helping students achieve their goals, both academically and professionally.”
Ellen Steffensen Cannon’s legacy illustrates how one family’s values— codified in an endowment—can ripple outward for generations. This principle holds true for the more than 1,800 endowments managed by the university today.
“Every day, you can see the power of endowed support at work across the university,” says Jason Perry, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics.
“Through the endowment our founder Robert H. Hinckley established, students have the opportunity to meaningfully engage in governmental,
civic, and political life while gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation for politics and public service.”
One of the first centers of its kind in the nation, the nonpartisan Hinckley Institute was founded in 1965 through a $250,000 bequest from Robert H. Hinckley and the Noble Foundation. A lifelong believer in the integrity of politics as a profession, Robert created the institute to connect students with the world through internships, speaker forums, and university courses. Now celebrating its 60th anniversary, the Hinckley Institute operates the longest-running internship program in Washington, DC, and has placed more than 10,000 interns in organizations across Utah, the US, and the world.
“The beauty of the Hinckley endowment is that it transforms civic engagement from a classroom concept into a lived experience,” Jason says. “Generations of students have had the opportunity to take a front seat in their education by completing internships, working on campaigns, participating in research, and engaging in community outreach.”
Senior Anna Locke, an Honors College student majoring in economics and religious studies, calls her experience with the Hinckley Institute “hands down” the most meaningful of her undergraduate career. During her congressional internship with Representative Blake Moore in both Utah and Washington, DC, she gained an inside look at the machinery of democracy.
“It was really cool to witness firsthand that it’s possible for young people like myself to engage in the democratic process and make a difference,” she says. “Behind the scenes of government are people like me, in their 20s and 30s, doing the nitty-gritty work of keeping things running. That was inspiring to see.”
Just as the Hinckley endowment has opened pathways for civic engagement,
Robert H. Hinckley
other endowments have enriched campus life in equally profound ways. Among the most farreaching are those that sustain the heart of the university’s intellectual life: the library.
The university’s J. Willard Marriott Library holds more than 4.5 million print and digital volumes and serves six states across the Mountain West—a scope its earliest benefactors could hardly have imagined yet helped make possible.
The library’s first endowed gift arrived in October 1900, just a week after the passing of former university president John R. Park, MD. His estate bequeathed
$10,000 to establish the Park Library of American History and Literature Endowment, which included his personal collection of books and papers, a catalyst for the library’s burgeoning collection. Sixteen years later, Alfales Young, son of Brigham and Eliza Burgess Young, contributed $2,000 in honor of his mother to create the library’s second endowment: the Eliza Burgess Young Library Endowment for the acquisition of books.
“These early endowments showcase the pivotal role libraries play in the intellectual vitality of a university,” says Sarah Shreeves, the Alice Sheets Marriott Dean of Libraries. “Every patron who engages with the library today benefits from the care and foresight our benefactors demonstrated generations ago.”
Another one of the library’s endowments, established in 1945, came from the estate of alumna Marian Elizabeth Jones to honor two figures who shaped her college experience: Esther Nelson, the university’s first librarian, and Milton Bennion, dean of the College of Education.
In a letter to the Board of Regents, Marian’s siblings explains her motivation to create the Esther Nelson and Dean Milton Bennion Fund, used to purchase books on philosophy and literature, writing in part:
“The years of association that our sister, Marian, had at the university with Dean Milton Bennion and Miss Esther Nelson held many happy memories for her. Before her death, Marian made it known to us that she had planned to establish a fund in grateful appreciation of their
services and accomplishments… We feel that this gift is symbolic of our sister’s interest and love of the university, and we are happy to carry out her wishes.”
For Dean Shreeves, Marian Jones’s gift is a reminder that each endowment carries with it a unique story, each one an individual expression of gratitude.
“Every endowment at the U tells a story, and behind each gift is a person or family who has chosen to weave their legacy into ours,” she says. “We are humbled by this responsibility, yet profoundly grateful for their belief in what we do.” ■
John R. Park, MD
Eliza Burgess Young
Esther Nelson
Dean Milton Bennion
Real-World Impact Learning with Purpose
Arecipient of the Steffensen Cannon Scholarship, Megan McCormick has had the opportunity to immerse themselves in a vast array of learning experiences while also serving on the university’s Institutional Review Board, contributing to a research journal, and working for the Office of Undergraduate Research.
“This scholarship has alleviated a lot of stress,” Megan says. “Without the burden of tuition, I have been able to focus on becoming the strongest candidate possible for graduate school.”
For them, education is more than a personal pursuit—it’s a calling. A double major in educational psychology and ethnic studies, Megan has dedicated their undergraduate years at the U to understanding how students learn, how teachers can be better prepared, and how classrooms can be more inclusive.
Megan’s passion for educational psychology began in their very first semester at the U. Assigned to observe a middle school classroom, they noticed how many English language learners were not provided the resources they needed to keep pace with their peers.
“English language learners are the fastest-growing student population in the United States, and yet they are put in classrooms where they’re expected to just ‘pick it up,’” Megan says. “Seeing that inequity firsthand made me realize I wanted to help change the system.”
Megan’s realization set them on a path toward research and ultimately the University of Utah Technology in Training, Education, and Consultation lab, managed by the university’s school psychology program. There, they have worked on a pioneering virtual reality project called Virtual Education Simulation (VEX), which gives pre-service teachers the chance to address difficult classroom situations in a simulated environment.
“Teacher burnout is a huge issue right now,” Megan says. “Projects like this can give new teachers the tools they need to succeed before they even set foot in a classroom.” ■
When it was time to apply to college, Anna Locke looked for a place with a strong community where she could forge her own path—the U was a perfect fit.
“The U has been my dream,” she says. “I love the mountains, I love the campus, and I love how many opportunities there are to get involved.”
One of the opportunities that piqued Anna’s interest early on was the Hinckley Institute of Politics, and she applied for an internship after her Honors College peer mentor recommended it.
Anna secured an internship the spring semester of her freshman year, working in Congressman Blake Moore’s district office in Ogden. There, she spoke with Utahns from across the state, researched policy issues, and built a stronger connection to her new community. This early experience inspired Anna to reach even further. In 2023, she applied for and earned a coveted spot in the institute’s Washington, DC, internship program, again working in Congressman Moore’s office. While there, she gave tours of the Capitol, drafted letters to constituents, and witnessed major debates unfold on the House floor.
“Issues I had only ever seen on the news were suddenly happening right in front of me,” Anna says. “It made me realize that these opportunities weren’t as far out of reach as I once thought.”
Now a senior double majoring in economics and religious studies, Anna is serving as a Presidential Intern in the Office of the President while preparing for law school. But no matter where she goes, the Hinckley experience will remain close to her heart.
“The Hinckley Institute has been the most meaningful part of my time at the U,” Anna says. “It shaped my career interests, gave me the chance to be part of the democratic process, and showed me what’s possible when students are given life-changing opportunities.” ■
Anna Locke has had transformational experiences through the Hinckley Institute of Politics.
For Steffenson Cannon Scholar Megan McCormick, education is a calling.
When Gratitude Inspires Giving
Endowed funds preserve a legacy of impact sparked by a doctor-patient bond.
BY AUDREY MAYNARD
When Janet, BS ’56, and Bertram “Bert” Schaap first met John Zone, MD, their relationship began in the most ordinary way: as doctor and patient. But what started in an exam room grew into a friendship that would change all their lives and, ultimately, leave a lasting impact on the University of Utah.
The Schaaps were first introduced to Zone, the former chair of the Department of Dermatology, by their internist, John Holbrook, BS ’64, MD ’67. Both native New Yorkers, Bert and Zone immediately hit it off. Their bond solidified in 2000 when Zone learned his son had been diagnosed with melanoma.
“Bert and Janet were always together, and they came to see me on one of my really bad days when things were not going well with my son,” he recalls. “Janet picked up on that and showed real empathy for my situation, kind of the reverse of what you’re supposed to do in the doctor-patient setting.”
Compelled by Zone’s story, Janet and Bert decided to name a room in his and his son’s honor at Huntsman Cancer Institute, which had recently opened. This act of generosity served as a catalyst for the Schaaps’ decades of philanthropy at the
University of Utah, culminating in 15 endowed funds, including two presidential endowed chairs in honor of Zone and Holbrook.
Originally intended to be established through the Schaaps’ estate, Janet made the decision to fully fund the chairs in the final years of her life. Bert had passed away in 2016, and in a video interview shortly before her death in June 2025, Janet explained that giving during her lifetime meant she could celebrate alongside the friends she honored and loved.
“How do you say thank you to a doctor who gives everything they’ve got every day?” she had said.
“It’s nice to be able to perpetuate that with what’s happening in medicine today … and so I started thinking, ‘Why don’t we put this into motion while everybody’s still alive?’”
For Zone, there’s been a sense of sadness in the wake of Janet’s death, but he feels grateful to be forever connected to the legacy that both she and Bert have left at the university.
“It’s truly a legacy for the three of us,” he says. “It’s an honor for me and a legacy that will go on after I’m no longer in this department. And it’s a legacy for Bert and Janet—one that will go on indefinitely.” ■
Over the course of 25 years, Bert and Janet Schaap established 15 endowments across University of Utah Health and within the School of Music. The university is grateful to the Schaaps for investing in the excellence of this institution through the following endowed gifts:
Bertram H. and Janet Marshall
Fund for Support of Startup Research in the Division of Otolaryngology in Honor of Leland Johnson, MD; Richard Orlandi, MD; and Lisa Dahlstrom, AuD
for the College of Pharmacy in Honor of Dr. John and Karen Mauger
The Bertram H. and Janet Marshall Schaap Chief Fellowship Endowed Fund for the Division of Cardiology in Honor of Dr. Roger A. Freedman
The Bertram H. and Janet Marshall Schaap Endowed Fund for Support of Promising Retinal Research in the Moran Eye Center in Honor of Randall J Olson, MD
The Bertram H. and Janet Marshall Schaap Endowed Fund for Support of Startup Research in the Department of Orthopaedics in Honor of Thomas Higgins, MD
The
Schaap Endowed
The Bertram H. and Janet Marshall Schaap Endowed Research Fund for the Utah Cardiac Recovery Program
The Bertram H. and Janet Marshall Schaap Endowed Scholarship Fund
and
The Bertram H. and Janet Marshall
Endowed Scholarship Fund in the School of Medicine
The Bertram H. and Janet Marshall Schaap Endowed Teaching Fellowship Fund for the College of Nursing
The Bertram H. and Janet Marshall Schaap Endowment for Visiting Guest Artists in the School of Music in Honor of Edgar J. Thompson
The Bertram H. and Janet Marshall Schaap Family Endowed Scholarship in the Department of Orthopaedics
Bertram H. and Janet Marshall
Presidential Endowed Chair in the Division of General Internal Medicine in Honor of John H.
The Bertram H. and Janet Marshall Schaap Presidential Endowed Chair in Honor of John J. Zone, MD, in the Department of Dermatology
The University of Utah is committed to helping our benefactors achieve their philanthropic goals. If you are interested in learning how to give through your will or living trust, contact the Office of Legacy Giving at 801-581-6824 or legacygiving@utah.edu.
Watch Janet Schaap and John Zone, MD, talk about their friendship and the Bertram H. and Janet Marshall Schaap Presidential Endowed Chair in Honor of John Zone, MD.
utahmedicine.org/derm
The Bertram H. and Janet Marshall Schaap Endowed Scholarship Fund in the College of Health
The Bertram H. and Janet Marshall Schaap Endowed Scholarship Fund in the College of Pharmacy
Schaap
The Bertram H.
Janet Marshall Schaap Endowed Scholarship Fund in the School of Music
The
Schaap
Holbrook, MD
Community Connection
The Mordecai Family Endowment for Connect2Health empowers future health care workers through service.
Mordecai Family Endowment for Connect2Health
This endowment provides perpetual funding to support the Connect2Health program, which mobilizes student health advocations to connect individuals in our community with resources that address their social determinants of health. Through this endowment, the Mordecai family wishes to express their appreciation for future health care professionals and empower Connect2Health students in their academic journey. Established 2024
BY EDWARD WEINMAN
Rocio Torres Mora, MPA ’19, a proud cancer survivor, feels fortunate. When she was undergoing radiation treatment, she could rely on her husband for help and had a home where she could recover. But her experience made her wonder about those who might not have the support she did. For example, who drives domestic abuse survivors to and from their appointments? Where do unhoused people recover after treatment?
“This is where Connect2Health can help,” says Rocio, who for the last 15 months has served as program manager for the University of Utah’s student-driven volunteer initiative.
In 2024, the Mordecai family established the Mordecai Family Endowment for Connect2Health to express their appreciation for future health care workers and support Connect2Health students in their academic journey through perpetual funding, ensuring the long-term sustainability and growth of the program. Connect2Health, created in 2011, addresses social factors that affect a person’s access to health care, such as housing, food, and transportation. By empowering student health advocates to connect individuals with essential community resources, it strengthens the foundation of patientcentered care.
“The endowment is crucial to our ability to continue providing services,” Rocio says. Without it, the clinics we support wouldn’t be able to operate at full capacity or help train our [Student Health Advocate] teams, which serve low-income communities.”
Student Health Advocates
Connect2Health serves three clinics in the Salt Lake City community: the Wellness Bus, which offers diabetes screenings; the Fourth Street Clinic, which serves a large population of unhoused people; and the Substance Use & Pregnancy-Recovery, Addiction, and Dependence (SUPeRAD) Clinic.
Student Health Advocates—including volunteers like Bryana Dry, BS ’25—work in these clinics and meet with underserved patients one-on-one. The advocates assess patients’ needs for community support and create a personalized “resource prescription,” a tailored list of referrals for necessities like food pantries, housing assistance, and clothing.
Bryana started as a health advocate and has volunteered at all three clinics. She now serves as the curriculum developer for Connect2Health, working to recruit new advocates. She points out that there are some patient needs health care providers may not consider.
“I’ve helped patients find access to food, water, and transportation so they can get the help they need in addition to medical care,” Bryana says. “I’ve even instructed parents on how to properly install a car seat for their babies.”
Impact and Empowerment
The Mordecai Family Endowment for Connect2Health has also enabled Connect2Health to build a stronger infrastructure to better serve the community.
“You’d be surprised what three hours of volunteering a week can accomplish,” says
Jack Vaughn, a biomedical engineering student in the Honors College.
Jack, who started as a health advocate and now has a leadership role as a committee chair, pointed out that in the 2024–25 academic year, students recorded 2,142 volunteer hours, amounting to a value of $73,029 in donated services.
“That’s a lot of money we’re saving the clinics who would otherwise have to pay staff for the services we provide,” he says. “We help patients, but we also alleviate the strain
on health care providers.”
His weekly volunteer hours have not only helped members of underserved communities but are also preparing Jack for a future career in health care.
“Connect2Health gave me clarity about the medical field,” he says. “I wouldn’t be considering medical school without this program. It also showed me the power of engaging in my community. It’s all been positive.” ■
Bryana Dry, BS ’25, volunteered as a health advocate while earning her bachelor degree and now serves in the role of curriculum developer.
Honors College student Jack Vaughn appreciates the opportunity to prepare for a future career in health care while serving the community.
Honoring a Vision
Alayne Markland, DO, the new D. Keith Barnes, MD, and Ida May “Dotty” Barnes, RN, Presidential Endowed Chair, talks about her vision for the future.
BY EDWARD WEINMAN
The D. Keith Barnes, MD, and Ida May “Dotty” Barnes, RN, Presidential Endowed Chair stands as a powerful financial cornerstone utilized across the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. For the past 12 years, the endowment has been deployed to support the Division of Geriatrics in the Department of Internal Medicine and the University of Utah’s Center on Aging.
The Barnes Presidential Endowed Chair has also been important in the recruitment of nationally recognized physician scientists to the U, including, most recently, Alayne Markland, DO. A recognized expert in urinary tract disorders, women’s health, and aging, Dr. Markland is a Fellow of the American Geriatrics Society and is honored to be part of the geriatrics division. Dr. Markland’s leadership as the Barnes Presidential Endowed Chair ensures that Dr. Barnes’s vision for excellence in aging research and clinical care continues to benefit the Utah community for generations. We talked to her about what an endowed chair means to her as a recipient and her work in the field.
Alayne Markland, DO, is the first woman to be appointed to the D. Keith Barnes, MD, and Ida May “Dotty” Barnes, RN, Presidential Endowed Chair.
(from left) John Inadomi, MD; Tim Ferrall, MD; and Alayne Markland, DO, celebrate the installation of Tim to a new Presidential Endowed Chair in the Division of Geriatrics.
Alayne Markland, DO, and John Inadomi, MD, converse at the event celebrating the installation of Tim Ferrall, MD, to a new Presidential Endowed Chair in the Division of Geriatrics.
The U: What does it mean to be appointed to this endowed chair and to be the first woman to lead the Division of Geriatrics and the U’s Center on Aging?
Alayne Markland : I am deeply honored. The enormous success of the Division of Geriatrics and the Center on Aging is a tremendous reason why I wanted to move to the University of Utah and take on these new roles. The prior holder of this chair, Mark Supiano, MD, is an amazing leader and mentor in geriatrics. His work enabled the positive culture around the care of older adults that exists today.
What led you into the field of geriatrics and aging?
As a medical student, I was fortunate to do summer research in a long-term care facility. I saw that we could improve the care of older adults, especially the care related to managing bladder and bowel problems, which have major impacts on caregivers and care providers. I was fortunate to have several mentors in geriatrics who pushed me towards a career in academia and clinical research.
What are your primary goals and vision for the Division of Geriatrics and the Center on Aging? How will becoming the endowed chair help you achieve these goals?
I want to help advance age-friendly care, research, and education that enhances the health and well-being of older adults across the state of Utah and beyond. The primary goal is to continue the positive culture around aging by increasing the number of faculty, staff, and trainees to create new clinical models, innovative research, and interdisciplinary education. The endowed chair will help me reach these goals by providing foundational support for future growth.
Under your leadership, are there specific areas of research on which the division and center will focus?
I hope to continue building on existing areas of research that include vascular aging and physiology, models of agefriendly care, and caregiver research. In addition, I hope to increase my own research on lower urinary tract disorders and build new programs around cognitive disorders and increasing access to care.
By 2034, the US population aged 65 and older is predicted to reach 77 million. Given this aging population, what are the most pressing challenges in geriatric care today, and how will you address these challenges?
The most pressing challenge in geriatric care is training and educating the workforce on how to care for our aging population. Along with this challenge, we have problems with ageism and the need for more empathy around the care of older adults. I hope that I can help educate the workforce to improve the care of older adults, while also addressing our bias towards ageism.
On a micro level, what advice would you give to the children of baby boomers to help them prepare and care for their parents?
I would advise them to stay involved with daily decisions for their parents. Specifically, making sure that parents can age in place safely, have good social support, and have access to good medical care. As a daughter of an aging parent (my mother is 82), I’m fortunate that she is in a safe home, living around friends and family, and she has a good primary care doctor with access to specialty-care providers. ■
D. Keith Barnes, MD, and Ida May “Dotty” Barnes, RN, Presidential Endowed Chair
This presidential endowed chair in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine exists for the benefit of improving medical care, treatment, and teaching in the Intermountain West.
Established 1999
Enduring support from the Nora Eccles Treadwell Foundation fuels landmark heart failure discovery.
BY AUDREY MAYNARD
For the roughly 6.5 million people living with heart failure, the diagnosis has long carried a heavy truth: once the heart begins to fail, recovery seems impossible. Current treatments can slow the syndrome’s progression, but none have been able to reverse its course.
Now, a groundbreaking new gene therapy developed by Robin Shaw, MD, PhD, director of CVRTI and the Nora Eccles Harrison Presidential Endowed Chair in Cardiology at the Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute (CVRTI) is offering something that was long out of reach: hope.
His team’s work centers on restoring a critical heart protein called cardiac bridging integrator 1 (cBIN1), which has the potential to recover the hearts of people who develop heart failure and ensure the heart continues pumping nutrient-rich blood to sustain organs in the body.
“cBIN1 controls the architecture inside heart cells. When cBIN1 is down, we know patients are not going to do well,” Robin says. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to ask, ‘What happens when we give it back?’”
That simple question has led to a discovery with extraordinary promise. By injecting a harmless virus commonly used in gene therapy into the bloodstream of pigs with heart failure, Robin and his research team were able to deliver an extra cBIN1 gene directly into the heart cells. The results were striking. Within just two to three weeks of injection, the pigs’ heart function improved by 30%.
“Previous therapies can take multiple years to manifest and improve function by only 5–10%,” Robin says. “So, this has gone from a cool idea worth exploring to where we are now: the wow stage. We are on the cusp of something truly remarkable and are on pins and needles to see it change the course of medicine.”
For Robin, this discovery represents the culmination of his life’s work. When he joined CVRTI in 2019, the cBIN1 therapy was showing its first signs of promising results in mice. With the steadfast backing of the Nora Eccles Treadwell Foundation,
which has helped to generate the preclinical data necessary to attract large grants from biotech companies and federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health, the early promise has evolved into a therapy now preparing to enter human clinical trials.
“Philanthropic support, through both endowed and annual gifts, provides us the flexibility to take on high-risk, high-reward projects,” he says. “This funding is a critical driver for cutting-edge ideas that traditional funding agencies are not yet ready to support.”
In a time when research funding faces mounting challenges, Robin emphasizes that private donors are essential to advancing scientific breakthroughs.
“Given the storm that currently challenges the university research model, philanthropy makes the difference to whether we navigate through the storm or not,” he says. “Having consistent philanthropic support is critical to our survival and forward progress.”
Robin’s connection to CVRTI stretches back more than thirty years, to when he was a young scientist learning from his mentor, Yoram Rudy, PhD, who often visited the institute to conduct research.
“The Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute was iconic as a research mecca,” Robin recalls.
Leading that very institute at a moment of historic discovery for heart failure, he sees his work as a privilege and a responsibility—to the patients who deserve to have hope and to the legacy that made such breakthroughs possible.
“The Nora Eccles Treadwell Foundation has built CVRTI into the largest freestanding cardiovascular research institute in the country, and they’ve done this not through just one gift but through consistent generous support for over half a century,” he says. “I have immense appreciation for all the Eccles family has done to advance cardiovascular research. Heart failure patients throughout the country will soon benefit from their unstinting support.” ■
This feature was adapted from stories that ran in Utah Magazine and the University of Utah Health online newsroom.
Nora Eccles Harrison Presidential Endowed Chair in Cardiology
This Presidential Endowed Chair is awarded to a distinguished research scientist whose work advances the field of cardiovascular medicine.
Established 1987
The Dumke family’s endowments in support of Red Butte Garden and Arboretum play a vital role in sustaining daily operations, enabling new development, and ensuring the long-term impact and preservation of the gardens.
Dumke Endowment for Red Butte Garden Maintenance
Established 1998
Dumke Family Presidential Endowment for Trails and Borderlands Maintenance
Established 2008
Dumke Family Presidential Endowment for Garden Maintenance
Established 2008
Planting a Legacy
The Dumke family ensures that the roots of endowed funds will result in everlasting blooms.
BY AUDREY MAYNARD
Over the last 40 years, Red Butte Garden and Arboretum has become an internationally renowned destination. A place where wedding vows are exchanged, curiosity is sparked, and music brings people together. It’s an impact that has transcended expectations.
Visionary philanthropist Ezekiel “Zeke” Dumke Jr., BA ’50, his wife, Katherine, and
their family were early champions for the gardens—later establishing three endowments to ensure its ongoing maintenance and care: the Dumke Endowment for Red Butte Garden Maintenance, the Dumke Family Presidential Endowment for Trails and Borderlands Maintenance, and the Dumke Family Presidential Endowment for Garden Maintenance
Walter Cottam, PhD, with Virginia Smith and Mrs. Seymoure Wells, ca. 1950s.
Garden After Dark has captivated visitors every fall for over 25 years.
Ezekiel “Zeke” Dumke (third from left) participates in the Red Butte Garden and Arboretum groundbreaking in 1984.
Zeke’s advocacy for the gardens began in the early 1980s, when he persuaded university leadership to dedicate 100 acres at the mouth of Red Butte Canyon for a regional botanical garden. His efforts built upon a foundation laid decades earlier by Walter Cottam, PhD, a university botany professor who successfully lobbied the Utah State Legislature to designate the campus landscape as a state arboretum. As its collections and programming grew, so did the arboretum’s need for a permanent home—something Zeke was committed to bringing to life.
“Zeke was integral to the creation of Red Butte Garden and Arboretum as a place for conservation, horticulture, education, and community,” says Executive Director Derrek Hanson, BS ’99, MPA ’07. “It’s been said that legacy is not leaving something for people; rather, it’s leaving something in people. What the Dumke family has instilled within us—those who have witnessed the wonders of Red Butte—is a sense of inspiration and awe. We are forever grateful for that.” ■
The first entrance to Red Butte Garden and Arboretum when it opened in 1985.
The Red Butte Garden Concert Series brings musicians from around the world to its beautiful amphitheatre.
The front of the Visitor’s Center circa 1996.
A 2017 drone shot shows the expansion of Red Butte Garden and Arboretum since it first opened its doors to the public in 1985.
Zeke and Katherine Dumke were ardent supporters for Red Butte Garden and Arboretum.
The Veterans Support Center
The Izzi Wagner Legacy Fund ensures veteran and military-connected students have the support they need.
BY EDWARD WEINMAN
If not for a mosquito, the Veterans Support Center (VSC) might not be as strong as it is today.
After fighting in the Battle of Guadalcanal, United States Marine Irving Jerome “Izzi” Wagner contracted malaria from a mosquito bite and wound up hospitalized in New Zealand for nearly a year. The illness prevented him from participating in the Battle of Tarawa, one of the bloodiest conflicts in the Pacific.
Izzi often joked that the mosquito saved his life—a life that saw him become a visionary businessman, civic leader, veteran, and philanthropist in Salt Lake City, where he founded the I. J. and Jeanné Wagner Charitable Foundation.
In 2025, the trustees of the Wagner Charitable Foundation established The Izzi Wagner Legacy Fund, an enduring endowment that provides vital programmatic support to the VSC, a place that
helps veteran and military-connected students find connection and a sense of belonging on campus.
The VSC also provides students with computers, a dedicated study hall, free printing, a textbook loan library, emergency financial grants, and other impactful programming.
According to Faamai Taupau, the director of the VSC, the center would not be where it is today without Izzi Wagner and the generosity of the Wagner Charitable Foundation.
“ The Izzi Wagner Legacy Fund is already transforming lives—expanding access to critical resources and creating a true home for our militaryconnected students. The legacy of this gift will resonate for generations, empowering thousands of students to thrive in their academic and personal journeys.”
The VSC began as a small office in the basement of
Private I.J. Wagner with Jeanné in April 1942.
Private I.J. Wagner (2nd row, far right) with his unit on Guadalcanal in February 1943.
Private I.J. Wagner with his mother, Rose, in 1942.
“The VSC helped me adjust and gave me a ‘home away from home.’ I chose to work here because I wanted to create that same welcoming space for others.”
the A. Ray Olpin Student Union, with limited space and restricted capacity. Over time, continued grants from the Wagner Foundation enabled the VSC to relocate to its present suite on the fourth floor of the Union. The expansion, which took place in 2013, has created a welcoming and resource-rich environment, a hub for connection where students like Emma Day can feel at home.
Emma says that the VSC helped to transform her university experience. Initially, she struggled to find a job that fit her class schedule, but the VSC provided her with the opportunity to work at the center as an administrative assistant.
“The VSC prioritizes hiring militaryconnected students, which has helped me support myself while in school,” says Emma, who is studying marketing.
Emma calls the VSC a lifeline. “The textbook loan library alone has saved me hundreds of dollars, and resources like free printing and scholarship opportunities have helped make college more affordable.”
But she points out that the VSC provides so much more than access to these resources. It’s a space where she can meet other students who have similar backgrounds, a place that helped her adjust to life on campus.
“I’m a military dependent. My father served in the Air Force for 25 years. Growing up, I moved every three years and even spent high school in South Korea. Because the military lifestyle is all I’ve ever known, starting college as a freshman was a major culture shock,” Emma says.
“The VSC helped me adjust and gave me a ‘home away from home.’ I chose to work here because I wanted to create that same welcoming space for others.”
Lori McDonald, BS ’95, PhD ’16, U vice president for student affairs, interacts with students from the VSC on a regular basis. She says that a vast diversity of people use the center, including students of different ages and backgrounds. Some are still in service, while others completed their service some time ago.
“This diversity helps the VSC become a place to regroup and have conversations that lead to healing,” Lori says. “The Wagner Charitable Foundation sent a powerful message to our veterans and their families: ‘You are welcome here and you matter.’” ■
Marketing student Emma Day calls the VSC a “lifeline.”
Past Worlds
The Wagner Charitable Foundation Partners with the Natural History Museum of Utah
One of the most spectacular views in all of Salt Lake City is from the Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU). On a clear day, one can see the entire 500-square miles of Salt Lake Valley—a place where dinosaurs once roamed.
Inside, the museum reveals geological stories that are billions of years old, as well as showcasing artifacts like a coiled basket, found in Cowboy Cave, Utah, dating back at least 8,688 years.
A recent landmark gift by the I. J. and Jeanné Wagner Charitable Foundation ensures that NHMU will be able to continue inspiring children, adults, and citizen scientists throughout the state of Utah for generations to come. As part of this extraordinary gift, the foundation trustees established a quasi-endowment to provide seed support for new, innovative projects that the museum would not otherwise have the funding to explore.
“Thanks to the remarkable generosity of the I. J. and Jeanné Wagner Charitable Foundation, we are preparing for a future in which we’ll be able to connect with more people than ever before, sharing the deep, incredible stories of Utah’s natural heritage and offering transformational educational opportunities to young people from across Utah and beyond,” says Jason Cryan, PhD, the Sarah B. George Executive Director at the NHMU.
One of those opportunities is the Youth Teaching Youth (YTY) program, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. YTY provides science leadership and educational opportunities to a range of underserved students and is a program that the late Izzi Wagner—who held dear the values of education, community service, and improving the lives of those in need— would have deeply treasured.
“The foundation’s support is a beautiful investment in the museum’s shared goal: to spark curiosity and a sense of wonder in everyone who walks through our doors,” Jason says. ■
Jason Cryan, PhD, is the Sarah B. George Executive Director at the Natural History Museum of Utah.
The Youth Teaching Youth program provides educational opportunities to underserved students.
NHMU inspires discovery through knowledge and imagination.
The Canyon area at NHMU features stunning views of Salt Lake Valley.
The Art of Negotiation
The Wagner-Holbrook Presidential Chair in Negotiation established at the S. J. Quinney College of Law
Izzi Wagner and Emeritus Clinical Professor James “Jim” Holbrook, JD ’74, met when they shared offices in the same building in downtown Salt Lake City. Little did they know that their burgeoning friendship would result in the WagnerHolbrook Presidential Chair in Negotiation, established at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in 2024. Jim and Izzi occasionally saw each other on the elevator, but it wasn’t until 1996, when Izzi was subpoenaed to testify as a witness in a Salt Lake County grand jury investigation, that Jim and Izzi became close friends.
“I had done a lot of grand jury work when I was an assistant U.S. attorney. I told Izzi I would represent him for free (because I hoped to get to know him). Thereafter, he took me to lunch once a week until he died in 2005,” says Jim, who was named one of three trustees of the I. J. and Jeanné Wagner Charitable Foundation.
Jim taught negotiation for 30 years at the College of Law, a crucial skill used by most lawyers every day both in the practice of law and in their personal lives. Izzi was celebrated for his own negotiation skills, which helped him on his path to becoming a successful businessman who helped shape downtown Salt Lake City.
The power of negotiation—and the enduring friendship between Izzi and Jim—will live on through the endowed chair. Inaugural chairholder Nicolás Parra-Herrera, SJD, says the substantial endowment will help grow negotiation teaching and research, as well as transform the college’s ability to recruit and retain top faculty.
“Utah Law is deeply committed to fostering and developing negotiation, mediation, and other collaborative problem-solving skills, which I consider vitally important,” Nicolás says. “I am honored to be this chair’s inaugural holder and be part of a community that values solving differences productively and fostering integrative solutions.” ■
Esteemed Emeritus Clinical Professor James Holbrook, JD ’74, forged a lifelong friendship with Izzi Wagner.
Nicolás Parra-Herrera, SJD, is the inaugural Wagner-Holbrook Presidential Chair in Negotiation.
James Holbrook, JD ’74, and Nicolás Parra-Herrera, SJD, at the Chair Investiture ceremony on September 2, 2025.
The art of negotiation is one of many important skills taught to students in the S.J. Quinney College of Law.
Mining Engineering Student Experience Endowment in Memory of Wallie Rasmussen
This scholarship empowers students pursuing a degree offered through the Department of Mining Engineering to pursue experiential learning opportunities, such as traveling to international, local, and regional mine sites.
Established 2024
Mongolian U alumni with College of Mines and Earth Sciences students at the Rio Tinto offices in Ulaanbaatar.
The Mining Engineering Student Experience Endowment in Memory of Wallie Rasmussen recently enabled students to travel to Mongolia to visit the Oyu Tolgoi mine.
Beyond the Classroom
Students
experience real-world learning opportunities thanks to a mining engineering endowment.
BY EDWARD WEINMAN
Mining and engineering are so important to the economy of Utah that a School of Mines was formally established at the University of Utah by an act of the Utah State Legislature in 1901. In 1988, the legislation was amended to fully establish the College of Mines and Earth Sciences at the U.
Harriet Rasmussen has more personal reasons for establishing, in 2024, the Mining Engineering Student Experience Endowment in Memory of Wallie Rasmussen . Named for her late husband, Wallie, BMG ’69, JD ’72, the endowment provides students with extraordinary learning opportunities, such as international research trips, that deepen their studies and prepare them for careers in mining and natural resources fields.
For Harriet, giving is about helping students. “We have the funds to be able to do this, so why not share with people who need it and can benefit from it?” she asks.
“I have two boxes of thankyou notes from the recipients of our donations. I can’t get rid of them; I can’t throw them away. It means a lot that these kids appreciate it and have thanked us—and now me—for a scholarship they have received from our funds. These thank-you letters are cherished items.”
support to many more. Their philanthropy has been broad, consistent, and deeply personal.
“Wallie was taught in his home growing up that you must donate to education, so he gave that challenge to me,” Harriet says.
The endowment honors Wallie’s legacy as a mining engineer and his commitment to the field.
In 2017, Wallie was awarded the John E. Willson Distinguished Alumnus Award from Mining Engineering. He had a distinguished 37-year career with ExxonMobil, retiring as senior counsel for the corporation. He was a prominent figure in natural resource law and was involved in major projects such as the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline.
The Mining Engineering Student Experience Endowment in Memory of Wallie Rasmussen supports several students each year in mining engineering and most recently enabled students to travel to Mongolia for a visit to the Oyu Tolgoi mine, a modern, technologically advanced operation. New underground mines will require similar technology and engineering processes developed by Oyu Tolgoi. The visit to the site created an opportunity to prepare students for future participation in the technological evolution of mining engineering.
The Rasmussens have given significantly across campus for nearly four decades, with major gifts to multiple areas (College of Education, Huntsman Mental Health Institute, College of Mines and Earth Sciences, College of Nursing, College of Social and Behavioral Science) and regular leadership-level
“This scholarship helps students take these types of trips so they can see how important this career can be for them,” Harriet says. “I hope Wallie knows up in heaven that things are looking up for mining engineers.” ■
Harriet and the late Wallie Rasmussen, BMG ’69, JD ’72
