Marquette University’s Diederich College of Communication has received a $3.5 million gift from the Bernice Shanke Greiveldinger Charitable Trust for capital improvement projects in the college’s Johnston Hall.
Johnston Hall, a part of Marquette’s historic core, has served as the College of Journalism’s (later College of Communication) permanent home since 1975. Phased renovations are set to begin in January 2015 and continue through August 2018. Faculty, staff and student input will be considered in the renovation planning, said Dean Lori Bergen, Ph.D.
“Through this generous gift, we will redefine space within our historic home to provide advanced technology and a more collaborative environment so that we may deliver the best, most relevant communication education to our students across all disciplines,” Bergen said. “The Greiveldinger Trust has honored us with this opportunity, and on behalf of the entire college I want to thank Geoffrey and his family.”
The Greiveldinger Trust, established following the death of Marquette journalism alumna Shanke Greiveldinger in 2008, earlier this year donated $1 million to Marquette’s new Jesuit Residence project. The college is named after J. William and Mary Diederich, who bequeathed $28 million in a legacy gift in 2005. Peter and Patricia Frechette gave the college $8.3 million in 2013 to establish the Perry and Alicia O’Brien Fellowship in Public Service Journalism.
“Significant renovations are needed to put the college on a pace to lead young journalists and media professionals for years to come,” said Geoffrey Greiveldinger, trustee of the Greiveldinger Charitable Trust. “The foundational work of the O’Brien Fellowship was instrumental in the Greiveldinger Trust’s decision to make this gift. That program represents a vision on the part of the college that augured so well for the future achievements of the Diederich College of Communication.”
