Students in the CU Teach program in the School of Education work together on a peer-led engineering lesson. Suzanne and Dave Hoover are giving the school $2.5 million to improve its new home on campus. (Credit: CU Boulder School of Education)
Thanks to the generosity of CU Boulder supporters Suzanne and Dave Hoover, the School of Education is well on its way to getting a new home featuring state-of-the-art learning labs and dynamic collaborative spaces.
The Hoovers are donating $2.5 million toward a renovation project that will help the school transform space in its future new home in the Fleming Building to reflect its mission of excellence and innovation in education. Housed in the current Education Building since the early 1950s, the school will move in early 2020.
Dave and Suzanne Hoover
The Hoovers are also supporting interdisciplinary offerings through the Center for Western Civilization, Thought and Policy, the College of Music and CU Athletics through an additional $2.5 million.
“The Hoover family’s generous gift allows us to create collaborative and welcoming spaces within our new building that will bring together faculty, staff, students and members of our surrounding educational community,” said Dean of the School of Education Kathy Schultz. “It will enable us to better work together to transform the educational opportunities for children now and in the future.”
Suzanne and Dave Hoover, longtime supporters of the university and former CU Boulder parents, also serve on the School of Education’s Development Advisory Board and the Center for Western Civilization, Thought and Policy Advisory Board, respectively. Their passion for philanthropy stems from their commitment to give back to their community.
Suzanne Hoover, a CU Foundation trustee, said she strongly believes in the “power of education to transform lives,” which is why she and her husband wanted to make this investment.
“When we invest in education, we’re investing in our communities,” Suzanne Hoover said. “We’re hopeful that our gift inspires others to do the same.”
Education Assistant Professor Melissa Braaten said she is eager to align the spaces where teachers-to-be learn with the school’s curricular focus.
“It’s exciting to think that we’ll be able to design our spaces specifically to make innovative education and learning possible,” Braaten said.
Other investments from the Hoover’s gift include: $1 million in support of the Center for Western Civilization, Thought and Policy and CU Boulder’s mission to cultivate diverse leaders; and $1 million to CU Athletics. The latter will support student-athlete excellence and establish endowments for educational support in the football and basketball programs.
Additionally, the Hoovers are committing $500,000 to the College of Music, expanding its previously established Hoover Fund for Music Education and enhancing the college’s innovative Trying on Teaching and Middle School Ensemble programs. A portion of the investment will support the expansion of the Imig Music Building.
“The Hoovers recognize the need for shaping great educators and strong leaders,” said Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. “Through their gift, the Hoovers are creating a legacy of support for future generations of students, educators and leaders at CU Boulder.”
