Rutgers Receives Generous Scholarship Gifts from Former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman

(Newark, NJ) -- The School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) at Rutgers University in Newark has received two generous gifts from former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman and her husband John Whitman.

The largest gift, in the amount of $100,000, establishes the Christine Todd Whitman Endowed Scholarship. The second gift of $5,500 establishes the Christine Todd Whitman Annual Scholarship. Both gifts will be used to provide financial assistance to women enrolled at SPAA.

“John and I are passionate about giving back to the community and especially committed to supporting women and women’s education,” noted Governor Whitman. “Study after study has shown that advancing women is one of the best things any society can do, and we’re pleased to play a small part in that quest at Rutgers.”

“We are sincerely grateful to the Whitmans for their generosity and desire to further the educational aspirations of our students,” said Marc Holzer, dean of SPAA. “These gifts will allow us to continue to attract talented women interested in pursuing careers in public service. Who knows … it’s very possible a recipient of the Whitmans' beneficence may one day find herself elevated to the rank of governor of the state of New Jersey.”

ABOUT RUTGERS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND ADMINISTRATION

Founded in 2006, SPAA is the first new school established at Rutgers University in more than 20 years. SPAA’s mission encompasses competence, diversity, knowledge and service, and the school equips future leaders and educators with the tools necessary to efficiently and effectively deliver government services. It is the only such school at a public university in New Jersey. SPAA enhances New Jersey’s capacity to develop more effective government at all levels, offering degree and non-degree programs, research and technical assistance to make government more transparent to citizens. The school’s most recent initiatives include a national network on performance measurement and reporting, a municipal public performance measurement system, and the development of the E-Governance Institute. For more information about the school, visit http://spaa.newark.rutgers.edu.