Projecting the Future

Family’s $2.5M in Gifts Will Fund Arts Innovation, Support Education Majors

A courtyard in the Parren J. Mitchell Art-Sociology Building will soon have new—and ever-changing—scenery: a 25-by-30-foot interactive projection screen showcasing art by students, faculty and guests.

The reimagined space is part of a $2.25 million gift from Nancy ’78 and Chuck Clarvit to the College of Arts and Humanities, which will invigorate the art department with research opportunities, programming, technology and renovated studios.

The new funds will also support scholarships in the graphic design program, a nod to Nancy’s major at UMD and her career as an art director. The gift boosts the university’s Arts for All initiative to encourage innovation through collaborations across the arts, sciences and other disciplines.

With an additional $225,000 gift, the couple’s daughter, Alison Clarvit ’13, M.Ed. ’14, is establishing the Clarvit Family Maryland Promise Scholarship for incoming students with financial need in the College of Education, as well as supporting TerpsEXCEED, which provides an inclusive UMD experience for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her gift will be matched by the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation as a part of the Clark Challenge for the Maryland Promise.

“I want to make sure that people can study whatever they are most interested in without fear of not being able to afford their education,” Alison says.