Gov. Baker Announces Additional $4M Grant from Mass. Technology Collaborative
01/13/2015
Eagle-Trib
By Lauren DiTullio
LOWELL — Thirty-five years ago, it was UMass Lowell's then-rare computer science program that gave Methuen native Robert Manning a competitive edge when he applied for jobs coming out of college.
He credits his minor in computer science with landing him a job as an analyst at MFS Investment Management, the Boston company that he now runs.
He met his wife, Donna, in chemistry class at Methuen High School. The pair went on to attend UMass Lowell together, and Donna is now an oncology nurse. The two have given the school a total of $10 million, earning Robert Manning the recognition of having the business school named after him. Their latest contribution came in the form of $4 million to be used for state-of-the-art facilities for the nursing and business programs, as well as a fund to reward exemplary UMass professors.
"We wanted to make sure that everyone here understands that we've never forgotten where we came from, and we never will," Manning said at Tuesday's event announcing their endowment.
The Mannings now live in Swampscott next to Gov. Charlie Baker, who also attended the event in the Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center on campus Tuesday.
The governor was there to announce an additional $4 million gift from Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. That grant will create a Printed Electronics Research Cluster, designed to help Massachusetts businesses develop printable electronics and train students in new technologies they will need in future math, technology, science and business careers.
Vice Provost Julie Chen said the technology would give large and small businesses "the ability to draw 3-D structure on the computer and print them" as easily as printing with ink on paper.
Baker, who stopped at UMass Lowell to kick off his gubernatorial campaign, joked that he didn't know how much credit he could take for the grant "having been in the office two days." However, he said he supports UMass Lowell in its commitment to preparing students for careers in innovation and technology.
"I think in many ways part of the reason I came here was to make a statement," he said of his decision to begin his campaign at UMass.
He added that he is excited to create "opportunities for kids" and incentives for companies to grow and stay in Lowell.
The grant from Massachusetts Technology Collaborative combined with the gift from the Mannings will enhance the university's "North Campus Innovation District." The business school, named for Manning in 2011, will be located in a brand new building there. The Mannings's endowment will, in part, pay for a "state-of-the-art trade desk" that will be the centerpiece of that building's atrium, Manning said.
Their contribution also endows a simulation lab for nursing students, featuring dummies that speak multiple languages and describe ailments to students. A clinician observes students while they treat the simulated patients, Manning said. Each dummy costs hundreds of thousands of dollars.
"They (students) learn how to diagnose and how to treat patients in a laboratory instead of a in a clinical environment like a hospital or a nursing home," Manning said.
Last, the Mannings have created a $10,000 award that will recognize extraordinary professors each year. Both students and faculty members will play a part in nominating teachers from all of the UMass campuses.
"Student scholarships are created quite often, and it’s quite popular, and it’s a good thing to do, but very rarely do you see an actual award for teaching in the classroom," Manning said. "We think it’s a great motivating tool and goes to show how much we appreciate what they do."