Stevens Institute Receives Historic $21M Investment from the Clark Foundation

On Sep 9, 2025

Stevens Institute of Technology has received a transformative $21 million commitment from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation – the largest investment in the university’s 155-year history. This support will enhance the Clark Scholars Program, launch the Clark Scholars Philanthropy Challenge Endowed Fund, and include a capital naming opportunity for a tower in the University Center Complex.

The investment represents the culmination of a longstanding partnership between Stevens and the Clark Foundation, which has already produced remarkable results through the Clark Scholars Program. Graduates from the program have secured positions at leading companies including Lockheed Martin, Bank of America and Procter & Gamble, while others have earned fully funded Ph.D. fellowships at top institutions and consistently graduated with highest honors.

“This extraordinary contribution represents far more than financial support — it embodies the enduring legacy of a man who was my mentor and dear friend,” said Stevens President Nariman Farvardin. “The Clark Scholars Program produces graduates who exemplify Jim Clark’s values: integrity, hard work, commitment to excellence and dedication to humanitarianism. I am profoundly honored to have been part of this transformational relationship, and I’m confident that decades from now, some of these Clark Scholars will return to Stevens to do for future generations what Jim Clark has done for ours.”

The Clark Scholars Program identifies and supports students who demonstrate leadership skills, integrity, business acumen, engineering prowess and dedication to humanitarian service.

The naming component of the investment will designate a tower within Stevens’ University Center Complex, a space that houses nearly 1,000 students and serves as a gathering place for the entire campus community.

The partnership between Stevens and the Clark Foundation began during President Farvardin’s previous tenure as dean of the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, where he first met Jim Clark and was inspired by his philosophy of creating concrete connections between effort and opportunity.

“This historic investment reflects our deep confidence in Stevens and its commitment to cultivating the next generation of engineering leaders,” said the Clark Foundation Board Chair, Courtney Clark Pastrick. “We are proud to partner with an institution that so powerfully embodies the values of my father, A. James Clark and to ensure his legacy continues to shape lives for decades to come.”

“Having served on the Stevens Board of Trustees, I know how deeply committed this institution is to academic excellence and developing students as leaders. This investment builds on that foundation, opening doors for future generations of Clark Scholars to thrive not only as engineers but also as leaders dedicated to strengthening their communities,” said Joe Del Guercio, president and CEO of the Clark Foundation.

The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation is preparing to sunset in December 2025, making this support part of the foundation’s final chapter of transformational giving.

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