UMass Lowell alumnus and benefactor John Kennedy ’70 ’16 (H) has given a new gift of $8 million to support three endowments to support students and faculty in the Kennedy College of Sciences.

LOWELL — An $8 million gift from one of UMass Lowell’s most loyal benefactors will support innovation in science teaching and research, while supporting a new opportunity that allows Ph.D. students in the sciences to jointly pursue master’s degrees in business.

The gift from John Kennedy ’70 ’16 (H) honors Kennedy College of Sciences Dean Noureddine Melikechi and two of his predecessors, Mark Hines and Robert Tamarin, in recognition of their work in partnership with Kennedy to advance the college while developing world-class programs in the sciences.

Earlier this year Kennedy announced a $2.5 million commitment to UMass Lowell Athletics, which included support for the first endowed coaching position at the university.

Kennedy’s total gift to the university of $10.5 million this year follows a long history of support for UMass Lowell. He and his brother are namesakes of the William J. and John F. Kennedy College of Sciences.

Kennedy’s most recent gift supports the:

• Dean Mark Hines Endowed Kennedy College of Sciences Mid-career Professorship: This endowment funds up to two recently tenured faculty at critical stages in their professional development.
• Dean Noureddine Melikechi Endowed Kennedy College of Sciences Faculty Innovation Fellowships: Faculty across the college will be eligible for these fellowships in support of innovative ideas for teaching, research, program development and other areas that advance faculty success and the work of the college.
• Dean Emeritus Robert Tamarin Endowed PhD/MBA Joint Degree Program: Doctoral students in the Kennedy College of Sciences will have the opportunity to also pursue a master’s degree in business administration from the Manning School of Business. The endowment will provide financial support for tuition, fees, prerequisite courses and other expenses related to the MBA portion of the program.

“Once again John Kennedy shows his enthusiasm for the success of UMass Lowell and our students, this time by renewing his support for challenging science programs that attract the brightest faculty and student minds,” said John Feudo, vice chancellor for advancement and global engagement at UMass Lowell. “John’s lifetime of generosity has already had an enormous impact on countless lives and careers. These latest gifts cement his legacy of support for outstanding science education and research.”

Kennedy College of Sciences Dean Noureddine Melikechi said: “John is a visionary and an exemplary leader. One of the highlights of my career has been collaborating with him to develop programs that change the trajectories of students while contributing to the fields represented under the college’s umbrella. I am especially touched by his thoughtful gift to the university made in my name, and I am grateful for his continued friendship.”

Manning School of Business Dean Bertie Greer noted Kennedy’s philanthropy creates a unique chance for graduate students to understand how to apply their research. “This innovative Ph.D./MBA program will open so many doors for scientists trained at UMass Lowell,” said Greer. “Those who take advantage of the program will leave here for careers in business leadership, or as entrepreneurs with the know-how to implement the innovations they’ve developed in the lab. We are all incredibly grateful for John’s leadership and support, and I am excited to see where this program leads.”

A mathematics major and graduate of Lowell Technological Institute, one of the predecessor institutions of UMass Lowell, Kennedy retired as president and CFO of Nova Analytics and Nova Technologies. He has credited the education he received at Lowell Tech and UMass Amherst for his success, remarking earlier this year that, “Giving back is my way of ensuring future students have the same opportunities.”

Through the years Kennedy has provided consistent support to UMass Lowell, including a gift that led to last year’s naming of the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex as well as the gift earlier this year endowing the university’s head men’s hockey coaching position.

Additionally, he has endowed multiple scholarships, underwritten the Nanotechnology Research and Development Center in his brother’s name, funded the Kennedy Family Basketball Court and created the annual Kennedy Cup Challenge between UMass Lowell and UMass Amherst sports teams. He serves on multiple boards within the UMass Lowell community including the Chancellor’s Advisory Council.

The Kennedy College of Sciences offers a dozen world-class undergraduate programs in fields such as Computer Science, Climate Change and Sustainability, and Applied Mathematics and Statistics. The college’s students also pursue degrees in eight master’s programs and a half-dozen Ph.D. programs.