Together for Good focuses on four key areas, including: (1) student learning and academic success; (2) a new academic district with state-of-the-art facilities; (3) a new athletics district, including a new stadium, track and fields; and (4) enhanced support for Augustinian-values that foster student development: undergraduate research, clinical learning experiences, mission trips and service learning and study abroad.
“Together for Good is about funding the big ideas that will transform Merrimack’s future and set it apart as a highly ranked, internationally respected, master’s level, comprehensive Catholic college,” says President Christopher E. Hopey, Ph.D.
One of those big ideas is the addition of Merrimack’s new North Campus Academic District, which features Crowe Hall, a 60,000-square foot, three-story building that features leading-edge classrooms, the Lucey Center for Business Advising, and the Bouchard Center for Management Consulting and Student Applied Project Learning, the Financial Capability Center, the Mucci Capital Markets Lab and conference and event space. Crowe Hall is also the new home of the Girard School of Business. The lead gift for the building came from generous benefactors and campaign co-chairs Michael K. ’92, H’17 and Kerridan Crowe P’17. Mr. Crowe is also chairman of the College’s Board of Trustees.
“Together for Good is about moving forward and standing out, both academically and culturally,” says Mr. Crowe. “We’re now a master’s comprehensive college with new innovation spaces that didn’t exist five or six years ago. The centerpiece of the Together for Good Campaign is about modernizing our facilities and enhancing our learning environments so we can attract and retain great talent, which in turn has attracted great students.”
In December, the College broke ground on the newest addition to the academic district: the Dr. Alfred L. Arcidi Center, which will be the new front door of the College, located at the edge of campus near the Elm Street entrance. The Arcidi Center, when complete next fall, will house the College’s Welcome Center, the O’Brien Center for Career Development and several conference and meeting spaces.
Campaign co-chair and Board of Trustee Vice Chairman Alfred J. Arcidi, Jr. ’84, P’06, 18 sees Together for Good as a catalyst for continued growth. “Merrimack is in the midst of a renaissance that will position it to stand out and above peer competitors through a unique value proposition: scholarship focused on career preparation and personal growth fostered by Augustinian values of doing good in our communities and our world,” says Arcidi. The Arcidi Center name pays tribute to Alfred’s father, Dr. Alfred L. Arcidi ’53, P’81, ’84, ’85, GP’06, ’15, ’18, M’18, H’12, an entrepreneur, philanthropist and longtime supporter of the College.
Further, Together for Good has bolstered support for enhanced student learning and study habits in the form of a newly renovated Academic Success Center (ASC) on the third floor of the McQuade Library. It’s also increased resources for student health and well-being, as evidenced by the McCarthy Student Wellness Fund established by Karen McCarthy ’92. This fund created Merrimack’s Office of Wellness Education (OWE) to increase awareness of mental health, suicide, and substance abuse concerns and to help identify at-risk students. “When I decided to make a major gift on behalf of Together for Good and Merrimack, I knew I wanted to do something that was centered around students,” says Ms. McCarthy.
And Campaign support in the form of innovation funds are fueling student learning, interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary collaboration and transforming the Merrimack College experience in the process. The J. Ronald ’63 and Joan Gaudreault Innovation Fund will foster new partnerships and programs between the Girard School of Business and the new School of Health Sciences. And Robert ’71 and Kathy Zatta’s Innovation Fund will support Merrimack’s Professional Development Retreat and other high impact career programing and networking opportunities.
The Campaign also raised support for the construction of a stadium complex with a multipurpose field turf-surface and eight-lane track as the new home to the Merrimack College field hockey, football, women’s lacrosse, men’s lacrosse and women’s and men’s track & field programs. Additionally, the Martone-Mejail Field was redeveloped for the men’s and women’s soccer and softball teams.
College Leadership Council member and campaign committee member, Rich Gallant says, “In my role, I’ve had the opportunity to talk about the College’s vision and the transformation I’ve seen during the last several years. I’ve seen incoming class sizes increase dramatically, new majors and programs added, and new infrastructure built. I’m very proud to be part of it. Because Merrimack is an organization on the move, it’s very easy to support it.”
For Sara Jane Brazda, senior vice president development and alumni relations, the Campaign is as much about engaging with the Merrimack community as it is about raising funds. “Together for Good is about how we as a community go about helping our current students achieve their goals while safeguarding Merrimack for future generations of Warriors.”
As President Hopey sees it, the Campaign is an opportunity for alumni to express their ownership of Merrimack through increased participation in the life of the College. “Merrimack’s future relies on the strong foundation we are building today. And while we continue to strive for successes not yet dreamed of, we here at Merrimack are especially good at climbing mountains.”
