The College of Engineering and Applied Science’s donor page gives us the opportunity
to express our gratitude to those who make an investment in the future. They help
us to continue our efforts in the fields of engineering and applied sciences so that
we may continue to make a transformative impact on our world. If you would like to
contribute in any way, please visit our giving page or our new building page.
College of Engineering and Applied Science Donors
Motivated by the Matches: Alumni Family Gives Back to Stony Brook Students, Cancer
Center
Choosing to attend Stony Brook University seemed like a no-brainer for both Frank
Fischer ’97 and his wife, Michele Fischer ’99. Frank’s brothers, William Fischer ’92
and Patrick Fischer ’94, both graduated from CEAS with mechanical engineering degrees,
while Michele wanted to study meteorology — and Stony Brook was one of only two SUNY
schools that offered an atmospheric sciences degree at the time. Now, together with
their family, Frank and Michele are giving back to Stony Brook students, as well as
the Stony Brook Cancer Center, through endowed funds.
Why Jacob Thomas ’73 Used a Qualified Charitable Donation to Establish an Endowed
CEAS Scholarship
When Jacob Thomas ’73 applied to the electrical engineering graduate program at Stony
Brook University, he had no idea it would lead to a successful career in computer
science. And when Thomas started giving back to Stony Brook through annual giving,
he never expected to establish an endowed scholarship using a qualified charitable
donation (QCD). But both of those things did happen, and Thomas is thrilled that he
can provide opportunities for students, the same way Stony Brook provided an opportunity
to him.
George Verghese MS ’75 has spent more than four decades shaping the fields of power
systems, power electronics and biomedical engineering as a professor at MIT. Verghese
created the Professor Chi‑Tsong Chen Excellence in Education Award, honoring the professor
whose clarity and rigor first opened the world of system theory to him. The award
will recognize up to two College of Engineering and Applied Sciences faculty members
each year who excel in the classroom and whose work shows potential for educational
impact beyond Stony Brook — particularly through pedagogical innovation and creative
curriculum design.
Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs Hong Zhang ’91 and Liya Liang ’94 Establish Fellowship
at CEAS
Stony Brook provided Hong Zhang a world-class education and helped launch his career
in material science and engineering. But what mattered most to the 1991 graduate —
and what still matters most — is that the University made him feel at home. In appreciation
of SBU's personal and financial support when they moved from Beijing nearly three
decades ago and in thanks to the success of their business, Zhang and Liang have donated
$300K to establish the “Liya Liang ’94 and Hong Zhang ’91 Endowed Faculty Fellowship
in Materials Science” at CEAS.
