Endicott College was founded in 1939 on the principles of helping young, independent women thrive in the workforce. So it makes sense that two of those early graduates—Trustees Myrt Harper Rose ’56 and Ayune Michel ’72—have dedicated their time and generosity to ensure that both the College and future Gulls will thrive into perpetuity.
“I needed this lovely, beautiful place.”
—Myrt Harper Rose ’56, Trustee, Endicott College
For Rose, a fearless bon vivant who is known for riding airplanes and other globe-trotting adventures, Endicott was where she found herself.
“I needed this lovely, beautiful place,” she said. “It was a step into being a person. I grew up there.”
Building on her long philanthropic history at Endicott, Rose has pledged $1 million to her alma mater through Spread Your Wings: The Campaign for Endicott College, permanently endowing and naming the deanship at Endicott's School of Education and providing discretionary funds for sustaining and enhancing the school's excellence in training future educators.
Though it’s been more than 60 years since she was an undergraduate living in Tupper, she knows that the College will use her gift wisely. Her only ask is that the money is spent during her lifetime.
“I wanted to see now what they can do with it, and I’m so happy to see what the school is doing,” Rose said. “It’s wonderful to experience the growth and the path they’re taking.”
President Steven R. DiSalvo, Ph.D. with Trustee Ayune Michel ’72 (above). Michel, along with Myrt Harper Rose ’52 (right), are both Trustees who have recently made transformational gifts to Spread Your Wings: The Campaign for Endicott College. ©Leanna Puccio ’24
Michel, who enjoyed a lifelong career in nursing that culminated with a role as the Director of Health Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has made a $2 million gift to Endicott’s Cummings School of Nursing & Health Sciences. The gift will ensure the program’s continued success as it becomes a vital nursing pipeline that also helps remedy the country’s critical nursing shortage.
For the alumna, giving back to Endicott feels instinctual, like helping family: “I’m in a position where I have no children, basically have no family left, and Endicott is kind of like my stepchild,” she said.
Read more about Spread Your Wings: The Campaign for Endicott College.