The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) has announced a historic $50 million donation from alumnus Daniel J. Riccio, Jr. (’86) in support of its College of Engineering.
The transformative contribution—the largest in the university’s history—will drive groundbreaking research, elevate academic excellence, and broaden student access and opportunities. In recognition of the gift, the engineering school will be renamed after Riccio, who retired in 2024 as senior vice president of hardware engineering following a 26-year career at Apple
Of the total amount, $40 million will be dedicated to undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships, recruitment and retention of top faculty, as well as funding a chair in biomedical engineering and a deanship. The remaining $10 million will establish an endowed research and innovation fund, designed to foster cross-disciplinary collaborations and support an engineering leadership programme in partnership with UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management. The gift will also be boosted by an additional $25 million in institutional resources and matching funds.
“[Daniel Riccio’s] support will empower UMass Amherst to expand discovery and innovation and prepare the next generation of engineering leaders while advancing its role as a catalyst for social and economic progress,” stated UMass Amherst Foundation president Arwen Duffy. “At a time when universities face unprecedented cuts to research funding and student support, his visionary philanthropy stands as a bold counterforce.”
“As a proud alum, I’ve seen UMass Amherst, including its College of Engineering, become a world-class institution over the past 20 years,” Riccio remarked. “I’m excited to make this gift and partner with UMass to take the College of Engineering to the next level and build on its mission of revolutionising engineering and making the world a better place.”
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