Alumni Nadine and Dr. John “Jack” Murray have supported the Colorado State University Honors Program for more than 20 years. In 2023, their generosity reached a new high watermark when they pledged $1.5 million to endow a chair named for Donald Mykles, a professor in the Department of Biology and the former director of the Honors Program.
“Although a great honor for me, the gift is the culmination of the Murrays’ many years of support of the University Honors Program,” said Mykles, who served as program director from 2012 to 2022. “Since its inception, the program has been a leader in undergraduate education, and initiatives that originated in the program have been adopted across the University. The endowed chair assures that the program will continue to innovate and fulfill its mission to enrich the educational experience of all students.”
Mykles is well known for his commitment to undergraduate education and research, and under his leadership, the program grew in size and reputation. Among numerous accomplishments, he broadened the participation of students and instructors from diverse backgrounds and expanded the curriculum to include more disciplines.
“The Murrays’ gift opens up a lot of creative possibilities for curricular innovation and co-curricular activities (i.e., learning opportunities students engage in outside the classroom to enhance course curriculum),” said Shawn Bingham, the current director of CSU’s Honors Program, who has expanded honors colleges at two other universities. “In my experience, significant gifts like this have an immediate impact on students and will help build excitement and momentum for the honors program and CSU.”
There are currently 1,800 students campuswide in the University Honors Program, which offers highly motivated and qualified students an interdisciplinary academic experience through additional coursework and discussion-based seminars within a supportive, inclusive community of engaged students, faculty and staff.
It all started with Willard O. Eddy
One Saturday morning in spring 1957, Professor Willard O. Eddy met with a group of about 25 students he had gathered to discuss philosophy and Tolstoy. “Eddy was the kind of professor that if he calls, you go,” said Jack, who was in attendance with some friends. Little did they know that would become the first honors colloquium.
After graduating from CSU in 1957, Jack had a distinguished career in cardiology. He earned his M.D. with high honors from the Baylor University College of Medicine in 1961 and continued his medical training at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. He joined the medical faculty at the University of Washington in 1965 and became a clinical professor of medicine/cardiology in 1984.
Nadine (Hough) had graduated from Colorado Women’s College before attending CSU, where she met Jack. After graduating in 1958, she earned a master’s in English education from Eastern Washington University and taught English in public schools and at the University of Washington. Nadine became a faculty member at UW for 10 years before beginning a successful career in real estate management.
Throughout Nadine and Jack’s careers, they worked with students who benefitted from honors programs, which made them even more passionate advocates of the honors approach to education.
“Jack and Nadine epitomize Ram generosity and altruism,” said Jan Nerger, dean of the College of Natural Sciences. “CSU and the Honors Program have benefited immensely from their support, especially from the time they have invested helping to build exceptional programming for our honors students.”
Jillian Cook, a junior majoring in data science with a concentration in economics, has been in the Honors Program for the past two years and has cultivated a deep appreciation for the program. “I’ve loved the opportunity to hone my critical thinking skills through Honors seminars and course content. The program has also introduced me to a bright network of both professors and peers, allowing me to develop relationships and learn from others in a way that will set me up for early career success.”
Participatory philanthropy
The first gift Nadine and Jack made to support the Honors Program came in 2003. After a decade, though, they wanted to make a bigger difference. In 2014, they created the Murray Hough Honor Professor to enrich the program. In 2019, they established the Honors Summer Institute, which encourages qualified but traditionally underrepresented high school students to attend CSU. Most recently, they created the Mykles Chair in University Honors endowment, which contributes to the program director’s salary and provides funding for programs, research and other initiatives that benefit the program.
Through it all, the Murray’s goal has been to find the most effective ways to build the Honors Program, or what Jack calls “participatory philanthropy.” “We’ve been trying to find the right model,” he said. “We didn’t just write a check; we participated. Don listened, Dean Jan Nerger listened, and the provost listened. We didn’t always come to a meeting of the minds, but we made headway. It’s an experiment, and isn’t that what the University is about?”
“We are deeply grateful for the stalwart commitment Jack and Nadine continue to show for CSU,” said Derek Dictson, vice president for CSU’s University Advancement. “Their generous gift helps ensure that the University will continue attracting world-renowned faculty to innovatively educate and prepare our future leaders. For that, we say a sincere thank you.”
For more information on how you can make a life-changing gift to students or programs at CSU, visit giving.colostate.edu.
