University of Delaware Gets $71.5M Gift for New Business School

A massive $71.5 million gift from alumni Robert L. Siegfried Jr., Kathleen Marie Siegfried, and their company will reshape business education at the University of Delaware.

The donation, which breaks all previous giving records in the school's nearly 300-year history, will build Siegfried Hall - planned as the new home for the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics.

"My time at UD — my incredible professors, the many unique experiences inside and outside the classroom, my vibrant network of friends and colleagues — helped to make me who I am today," said Robert Siegfried to WHYY.

The modern building will feature advanced classrooms, research areas, and a student-run café. The plans include an auditorium, success center, and high-tech meeting spaces with public computers and AI tools.

While they haven't picked the exact spot yet, building should begin within four years.

The new Siegfried Institute for Leadership and Free Enterprise will focus on exploring key issues around limited government, law, and economic freedom.

As the area's second-biggest business school, the Lerner College teaches over 4,000 students across five departments.

The Siegfrieds have given before - putting more than $6 million toward various causes, including helping fund a youth leadership program for Delaware students.

Robert Siegfried's consulting firm, based in Wilmington, has expanded to include 1,300 employees across 18 offices nationwide.

University President Dennis Assanis highlighted the gift's importance, saying it puts the school "among an elite group of U.S. business schools that have received this level of philanthropic investment in student success."