Business & Tech

Local Businessman Donates $1 Million to Endow Chair at SF State

Palo Alto businessman George Marcus offers big boost for American Studies program.

Palo Alto businessman George Marcus, and his wife, Judy, have gifted $1 million to San Francisco State University to create the endowed Robert A. Corrigan Chair in American Studies, the university announced Thursday.

The Marcus’, who live in Los Altos, met at SF State in the 1960s and graduated with degrees in economics and kinesiology. Mr. Marcus is the founder and chairman of Palo Alto-based Marcus and Millichap Company.

The chair is named after SFSU President Robert A. Corrigan, who is retiring this spring after 24 years.

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Corrigan is known for creating one of the first black studies programs in the nation while he was an American Studies professor at University of Iowa in the 1960s.

 "Bob Corrigan had a tremendous impact on San FranciscoState University, and we are thrilled to be able to help establish this endowment in his honor," said George Marcus in a statement released by the university. He was the first in his family to attend college. J

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udy Marcus is a SFSU Foundation Board Member, and their gifts to the university have included establishing the International Center for the Arts and scholarship support for Modern Greek studies and the Cinema department.

“I am honored by the Marcus family’s continued investment in the University, and delighted that this important field of study is being promoted by their generosity,” said President Robert A. Corrigan in a statement.  “The endowed chair is a much-appreciated tribute that will serve the University for generations.”

SFSU alumnus Kenneth Fong, a CSU trustee, also donated $200,000 to support the endowment, as did Bettye Poetz Ferguson, who donated $100,000.

The university aims to raise $2 million for the chair.

“As Americans, we are continually discussing our nation's role in an increasingly globalized world,” said Paul Sherwin, dean of the College of Liberal & Creative Arts, in a statement. "The Corrigan Chair will allow us to develop our American Studies program better to serve our students and to contribute in a meaningful way to the ongoing conversation about what it means to be American."


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