Our students are determined to tackle the complex challenges of today and tomorrow, and we’re right there with them. Whether it’s the faculty shaping minds in the classroom or the staff members influencing their campus experience and community connections, we all play integral roles in a well-oiled machine moving full speed ahead.
Our work here at MSOE shows what we’re made of. We’re a team of scholars, creatives, leaders and supporters with one common goal: to move our university forward toward excellence.
for MSOE together,
Dear Colleagues,
As the new co-chairs of this year’s Faculty and Staff Giving Campaign, we want to begin by thanking you for the dedication, care and passion you bring to MSOE every day. Your commitment to our students and to academic excellence is what makes this campus such a strong and supportive place to learn and work. MSOE was ranked the 2nd Best University in the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report and recognized as one of the Best U.S. Colleges for High Salaries (#17 out of 584) for 2026 by the Wall Street Journal. These accolades are a direct reflection of your extraordinary work and the highquality education you provide our students.
Participation at any level truly makes a difference. Every gift, no matter the size, helps enhance the student experience and supports the programs, opportunities and resources that define MSOE. Participation is a powerful way to demonstrate our shared commitment to MSOE’s mission and to student success.
The campaign runs from April 1 through MSOE’s Giving Day on April 16. Last year, faculty and staff exceeded the campaign goal of 60% participation, reaching an impressive 65%. Gifts supported student organizations, scholarships, athletics and academic programs across campus. As we begin our seventh annual campaign, we invite you to support an area of campus that is meaningful to you. Your campaign ambassador is available to answer
Our goal is to meet—or exceed—a 65% participation rate. Every gift helps us reach that goal. We hope you will join us in continuing MSOE’s tradition
Thank you for all that you do for MSOE and for the lasting difference you make
Hannah Trees Interim Athletic Director and Head Women’s Basketball Coach Athletics
Impacts on Campus
BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING GENERAL FUND
ACADEMICS
$4,780
Giving Day contributions for the Biomedical Engineering
General Fund strengthened hands-on learning, professional development and career preparation for students. This included support for the 2025 Biomedical Engineering Showcase and a new 3D optical scanner, multifilament 3D printer and Michelson Interferometer Kit. These additions provided hands-on learning opportunities that strengthen students’ career readiness.
STUDENT PERSISTENCE FUND
DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE
$1,318
Faculty and staff donations to the Student Persistence Fund provided MSOE students with critical support during times of unexpected academic or personal hardship. These generous contributions helped remove financial and logistical barriers by connecting students with personalized guidance, advocacy and essential campus resources. With this support, students were able to stay enrolled, overcome challenges and continue making progress toward their educational goals.
MSOE SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS
STUDENT ORGANIZATION
$1,325
Through Giving Day support, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) has been able to send their members to national and regional conferences every year. Conferences are a unique opportunity for students to network with professional and collegiate SWE members. Several students earned internships and full-time positions because of their SWE membership. The generosity on Giving Day goes beyond financial—it empowers a new generation of leaders in STEM.
Faculty and Staff Giving by Purpose
$93,976 was raised from faculty and staff in Fiscal Year 2025
Other
$4,033
Athletics
$10,235
Student Life
$27,339
Scholarships and Awards
$10,585
Academic Areas
$19,948
Unrestricted
$21,836
Dollars-raised – commitments to the university.
Restricted funds – designated for specific purposes, such as WMSE, Grohmann Museum, capital, etc.
Unrestricted funds or “Fund for MSOE” – allocated to areas with the highest need on campus.
Any time is a great time to give! In fiscal year 2025, more than 250 MSOE faculty and staff members (a 65% participation rate) joined together to contribute to MSOE’s future.
Why I Give
Amii LaPointe
Adjunct Associate Professor, Humanities, Social Science and Communication Department
For Amii LaPointe, philanthropy and faculty life are deeply intertwined: both rooted in a shared commitment to empowering the next generation to thrive. Through her generosity to MSOE, she ensures that the student experience remains accessible and transformative, equipping them with the skills to navigate their journeys with confidence, resilience and meaningful support.
LaPointe’s decade-long journey at MSOE began with a purposeful pivot from the corporate world to the classroom. Serving as chair of user experience on the Industrial Advisory Committee, she partnered closely with faculty to help build the UX curriculum from the ground up. Today, as an adjunct associate professor of UX, she finds her greatest fulfillment in the success and growth of her students, who remain at the heart of her work as an educator.
“Mentoring students as they grow into professionals brings me immense joy—their success truly feels like my own,” she says. That deep commitment to her students fuels her desire to give back to MSOE in meaningful ways beyond the classroom. Whether leading yoga sessions on campus to promote wellness or bringing her nowretired therapy dog, Griswold, to class to help students de-stress, LaPointe continually finds thoughtful ways to support the whole student experience.
Her decision to give is grounded in her belief in the university’s mission. “I give to MSOE because I truly believe in our university, our students and the incredible value we provide,” LaPointe said. For her, philanthropy helps ensure that an MSOE education remains within reach for the future professionals she inspires every day.
“I still pinch myself that I get to teach here— and I’m honored to help make that same dream a reality for our future professionals.”
Amii
LaPointe Adjunct Associate Professor
Humanities, Social Science and Communication Department
“ I give because I have seen and experienced the immense impact giving has on students. Whether it’s scholarships for collegiate students or providing opportunities for K–12 students through the STEM Center, a culture of generosity is transformative. Giving is my way to invest in our students and our university’s future.”
Liz Taylor Director of STEM
How to Give
Payroll Deduction
Payroll deduction is one of the fastest and most convenient ways to make your gift. By signing up for payroll deduction, you can support any area on campus with a gift as little as $5 per paycheck!
Example payroll amounts based on 24 pay periods: Credit Card
Scan QR code for payroll deduction
MSOE’s Giving Day website is a secure and safe way to make a one-time gift via credit card between April 1 and 16. Visit givingday.msoe.edu and make your gift today.
Planned Gifts
To make a future gift to MSOE through a will or trust, retirement assets or another deferred gift, please contact Kristen Mekemson, vice president of university advancement, at (414) 313-5600.
FAQs
Q: What is MSOE’s Giving Day?
A: Each year, MSOE challenges our alumni, faculty, staff, parents and friends to come together to support the university and the students we serve during our annual Giving Day. For 24 hours we rally support for numerous areas of our campus
Q: Do I have to give a certain amount to be counted?
A: Any gift, no matter the size, is a point of pride and will have an immediate effect on our campus. The more people who choose to give, the greater the collective impact of their gifts.
Q: I would love to donate to a specific fund, where can I find that?
A: The Giving Day website lists available funds, including educational student organizations gift funds. If your preferred fund is not in the dropdown list, you can write it in the “Other” box, and we will allocate your donation to the closest matching fund.
Q: Can my gift be anonymous?
A: Yes. If you decide to make a gift, there is an option to remain anonymous. If this option is selected, your name will not be published in any recognition materials, but your donation will still be counted in the overall campaign totals and your department’s totals.
Q: What does the term “giving year” refer to, and if I’ve donated during this timeframe, am I considered a participant in the campaign?
A: The giving year is July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026. If you’ve made a charitable gift, one-time or recurring, to MSOE during this period, you would be considered a participant in the Faculty and Staff Campaign. Making a gift on Giving Day would further contribute to the campaign and is appreciated.
“I truly mean it when I say that I would not have been able to pursue even half of the learning experiences and opportunities I’ve had without your belief in me and the support you’ve provided. Your decision to invest in my education has shaped not just my college journey, but the way I view my future and what I’m capable of achieving.”
