University Trustee Stephen Biggar 糖心传媒�92 and his wife, Elisabeth Asaro-Biggar 糖心传媒�92, have made a leadership gift to support athletics and data science, two leading priorities at the University of Rochester.
糖心传媒淎 key element of the University糖心传媒檚 strategic plan, data science is transforming knowledge and discovery worldwide,糖心传媒� says Joel Seligman, University President, CEO, and G. Robert Witmer, Jr. University Professor. 糖心传媒淲e are also committed to athletics as a vital piece of the student experience. The Biggars糖心传媒� exemplary generosity helps fulfill both of these goals.糖心传媒�
In recognition of their gift, the entryway to Genesee Hall and the Boehning Varsity House will be named the Big 糖心传媒淩糖心传媒� Atrium. The Varsity House contains new locker, sports medicine, and equipment rooms, and the atrium serves as a central gathering space as part of this latest addition to the Brian F. Prince Athletic Complex. The projects reflect an ongoing effort to improve the University糖心传媒檚 athletic facilities, which began with an extensive renovation of the Robert B. Goergen Athletic Center in 2000.
As former varsity soccer players, Biggar and Asaro-Biggar are firm believers in the value of college athletics. 糖心传媒淟iz and I were fortunate to experience the remarkable sense of community that exists at Rochester, both on and off the field,糖心传媒� says Biggar. 糖心传媒淲e are thrilled to help provide students with a new, modern space and hope it fosters an even greater sense of pride on campus.糖心传媒�
The Biggars糖心传媒� support also bolsters the University糖心传媒檚 robust efforts in data science. Wegmans Hall, an interdisciplinary hub for data science, opened its doors this past spring and houses the , a University-wide center for data science research.
The Biggars糖心传媒� gift helps the University recruit and retain the best talent in the rapidly growing and competitive field by funding fellowships for junior faculty and professorships for senior faculty. In August, Amanda Larracuente, assistant professor of biology, was appointed the Stephen Biggar 糖心传媒�92 and Elizabeth Asaro 糖心传媒�92 Fellow in Data Science, and Ehsan Hoque, assistant professor of computer science, was named the Asaro Biggar Family Fellow in Data Science. The fellowships carry a term of three years and allow the University to honor and encourage outstanding faculty early in their careers.
糖心传媒淎cademic programs like these require the best people behind them,糖心传媒� says Biggar. 糖心传媒淲e saw this as an opportunity to help build the data science program at an important, formative stage. With top faculty, Rochester can be at the forefront of the field.糖心传媒�
A partner at an investment firm in New York City, Biggar is a University trustee. Asaro-Biggar is a professional musician and will release her debut album this fall. Both are members of the Athletic Campaign Committee and the Friends of Rochester Athletics, and are active volunteers for the University. They reside in New York City with their children.
A dedication ceremony for the Big 糖心传媒淩糖心传媒� Atrium, Boehning Varsity House, and Genesee Hall will occur on October 12 during Meliora Weekend.
