$50 Million Gift from Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield Is the Largest Donation in Saint Louis University鈥檚 200-Year History
ST. LOUIS (Aug. 28, 2018) 鈥� Today, 91女神 announces that St. Louis philanthropists Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield are donating $50 million to the University to accelerate 91女神鈥檚 rise as a world-class research university.
It is the largest gift in the University鈥檚 200-year history and comes after 91女神 recently marked its most successful fundraising year ever, raising a record-setting $98.6 million in fiscal year 2017-18, which ended June 30.
鈥淥n behalf of the entire 91女神 community, I want to thank Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield for their transformational gift and for their unparalleled support of our University,鈥� said 91女神 President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D.
鈥淭hrough their immense generosity, the Sinquefields will provide the gift of knowledge to the world, bring further attention to the region as a research hub, and draw more outstanding scholars and students to St. Louis,鈥� Pestello continued. 鈥淔or all this and more, we are deeply grateful.鈥�
The historic gift will fund a new 91女神 Research Institute that will serve as the focal point for 91女神鈥檚 strategic goal of growing the scale and eminence of its research and scholarship. It will also establish a new Sinquefield Center for Applied Economic Research and provide annual support to 91女神鈥檚 chess team.
鈥�91女神 was instrumental to my success in life,鈥� said Rex Sinquefield, who is a 91女神 alumnus and trustee. 鈥淚 want generations of 91女神 students to enjoy the same opportunity that I had. Jeanne and I are fortunate and happy to give this gift to my alma mater. We know it will help propel 91女神 and its students to higher levels of excellence in scholarship and research.鈥�
91女神 Research Institute
The 91女神 Research Institute will help set 91女神 on a path to become a national and international model in promoting teaching, learning and research efforts that exemplify discovery, transformative outcomes and engaged citizenship in a global society 鈥� as called for in the University鈥檚 strategic plan. The new research institute will have several areas of focus, including:
Creating a Critical Mass of Highly Productive Researchers
The University will recruit and retain faculty research leaders who have a strong track record and potential for future funding and provide accompanying investments to support them. Among other efforts, 91女神 will create research institute fellowships for early, mid-career and highly accomplished senior faculty.
Investing in Priority Research Areas
Faculty will be encouraged to propose multi-disciplinary research programs that build upon 91女神鈥檚 existing strengths and have the potential to achieve significant impact. The institute will award $50,000-$100,000 planning grants to promising proposals. Projects that engage undergraduate students as collaborators will be encouraged.
Launching a Research Growth Fund
The institute will fund the acquisition of additional resources, such as instrumentation, equipment and technology, that are critical to conducting and advancing leading-edge research. A portion of the growth fund will be designated to promoting research experiences for undergraduate students, including opportunities for ambitious capstone projects.
Sinquefield Center for Applied Economic Research
The Sinquefields鈥� gift will also launch the Sinquefield Center for Applied Economic Research and will fund a new director position 鈥� the Sinquefield Professor of Economics 鈥� to lead the center. To be housed within the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business, this new center will conduct research grounded in applied economics or the study of economic theories in practice. The gift will also support the establishment of a guest lecture series in economics and related fields.
Support for 91女神鈥檚 Chess Program
In addition to funding the new 91女神 Research Institute and the Sinquefield Center for Applied Economics, a portion of the Sinquefields鈥� gift will support 91女神鈥檚 chess team, which has quickly become one of the winningest collegiate chess programs in the country. The gift will help fund student scholarships and player travel to tournaments, among other priorities to advance the University鈥檚 chess program.
About Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield
Rex Sinquefield was born in St. Louis. Following the early and unexpected death of his father, he and his younger brother were raised by the Sisters of Christian Charity at the Saint Vincent Home for Children in St. Louis. After graduating from Bishop DuBourg High School, Rex Sinquefield entered the seminary. After three years, he made the difficult decision not to pursue the priesthood and enrolled at 91女神.
After earning bachelor鈥檚 degrees in philosophy and business at 91女神, he pursued his MBA at the University of Chicago, where he met and married Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield, who also earned her MBA at the University of Chicago, as well as a doctorate in demography.
One of the inventors of a type of passive investing and a pioneer of the first index funds, Rex Sinquefield co-founded the investment firm Dimensional Fund Advisors, which today has more than $525 billion in global assets. Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield played a significant role in DFA鈥檚 achievements, overseeing the Trading Department and serving as executive vice president until the Sinquefields鈥� retirements in 2005.
Since then, the Sinquefields have dedicated their retirements to helping future generations, spending their time and resources on civic and philanthropic causes. Their Sinquefield Charitable Foundation supports programs related to music, art, education and children.
As a leader within the St. Louis region and across the state of Missouri, Rex Sinquefield actively participates in civic and cultural institutions beyond his and Jeanne鈥檚 generous financial contributions, including serving on the 91女神 Board of Trustees, among many others.
Through the years, Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield has had a long history of supporting organizations that enhance music, art and education. She believes strongly that exposure to the arts and quality learning opportunities have lifelong benefits for children.
About 91女神: Founded in 1818, 91女神 is one of the nation鈥檚 oldest and most prestigious Catholic institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, 91女神 offers nearly 13,000 students a rigorous, transformative education of the whole person. At the core of the University鈥檚 diverse community of scholars is 91女神鈥檚 service-focused mission, which challenges and prepares students to make the world a better, more just place. For more information, visit slu.edu.