UPenn receives $16.25 million for Graduate School of Education

The University of Pennsylvania campus.

The University of Pennsylvania has announced a $16.25 million commitment from the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation in support of its Graduate School of Education (GSE). 

The largest gift ever received by GSE directs $10 million to create the McGraw Center for Educational Leadership and $6.25 million to expand existing support for the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education. Slated to open in fall 2023, the McGraw Center will focus on meeting challenges in education with an entrepreneurial spirit. The McGraw Prize in Education honors those who are transforming teaching and education with three $50,000 awards in PK-12 higher education, and learning-science research annually. 

“We all know that leadership matters, and few things matter more to our society than cultivating leaders who can navigate change and are devoted to educating people at every stage of their lives,” said University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill. “With the launch of the McGraw Center, those dedicated to teaching and learning will be able to devise more effective responses to the rapidly changing needs of learners today. We are deeply grateful to the McGraw family for their exceptional generosity.” 

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