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$250,000 gift to help UI retain key Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty
Posted July 12, 2004
IOWA CITY -- Kevin L. and Cindy S. Roberg of Tonka Bay, Minn., have committed $250,000 to the University of Iowa Foundation to help the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) retain faculty members in the face of competition from other universities and colleges. The gift establishes the Kelsey Roberg Faculty Excellence Fund, named in memory of the couple's daughter, who died at the age of 5 in 1990. CLAS Dean Linda Maxson said the endowed Roberg Fund will help the college maintain a strong faculty. "Competition among academic institutions for excellent teachers and researchers is intense," Maxson said. "Other universities and colleges often attempt to lure our best faculty members away with attractive compensation offers. In order to maintain the quality of education for which our college and university are known, we can't let that happen. With the Roberg Fund, we will be better able to offer the types of teaching and research resources that will keep quality faculty members at Iowa. We are extremely grateful for the assistance." Kevin Roberg, who graduated from the UI with a B.S. degree in recreation education in 1973, is a general partner in Delphi Ventures of Tonka Bay, Minn., a venture capital firm specializing in health care start-up companies. He is also a member of the CLAS Dean's Advisory Board and co-chair of the college's campaign committee, the group coordinating the college's initiatives within the UI's comprehensive fund-raising campaign. Roberg said his gratitude for the education he received at Iowa and his memories of outstanding teachers there motivated him to do what he could to help ensure that future generations of CLAS students benefit from the same top-quality educational environment. The Robergs also wanted to honor the memory of their daughter, Kelsey, who struggled with cancer from her infancy until her death two days before her 6th birthday. "Kelsey had a wonderful spirit," Kevin Roberg said. "I like to think that she would have gone to the University of Iowa one day. Now she can, in a way." The Robergs' gift is part of the UI's $1 billion comprehensive campaign, which will run through 2005 and is being conducted under the guidance of the UI Foundation. Named Good. Better. Best. Iowa: The Campaign to Advance Our Great University, the seven-year effort is raising private funds to help launch a variety of initiatives across the university, substantially increase the number of UI scholarships and endowed faculty positions, support new educational and research facilities, build the UI's endowment and fund outreach and service programs to benefit Iowans. The UI Foundation is acknowledged by the UI as preferred channels for private contributions that benefit all areas of the university. For more information about the Good. Better. Best. Iowa campaign, visit its web site at www.GoodBetterBestIowa.org. Contact Information
Michael Kingan Additional information about supporting the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences also is available on this site. |