California State University, Los Angeles has announced a $10 million gift from alumna Mary Levin Cutler (’55) to establish the Mary Levin School of the Arts.

The first named school within the university’s College of Arts and Letters will house the departments of art; music; television, film, and media studies; and theatre and dance as well as the Ronald H. Silverman Fine Arts Gallery.

A violinist, singer, and ethnomusicologist, Cutler was the first in her family to graduate from college. She received a bachelor’s degree in music from Cal State LA—then known as Los Angeles State College—and earned a master’s degree in music from USC. The most recent gift brings her total contributions to the university to $14 million, having previously supported the university’s first capital fundraising campaign and establishing named endowments.

“This is one of the most incredible moments of my life,” said Cutler. “Years ago, when I registered to go to L.A. State, I had no idea—never dreamed—that a moment like this could come.”

“Mary Levin’s tremendous generosity and dedication to our College of Arts and Letters and to our university will undoubtedly elevate the stature and visibility of our arts programs and will further transform the lives of our students and their future success by enhancing the quality of their education, the caliber of their skills, and their competitiveness in the entertainment and other industries,” said Lena Chao, dean of the College of Arts and Letters. “We are truly grateful that Mary has shared this incredible gift to make our Cal State LA students’ dreams a reality.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/jeremyiswild)