The Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication completed an $18 million fund-raising campaign Thursday that was initiated by a $9 million matching gift from Robert and Diane Greenlee of Boulder, Colo.

In March 1998, the Greenlees donated $9 million to create the Robert and Diane Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. The money was not only a gift, but also presented a challenge to ISU alumni and supporters to raise the additional $9 million for the school by 2001.

Gifts for the campaign were made through the ISU Foundation.

“The gifts are extremely valuable in advancing the efforts in our academic efforts,” said ISU President Gregory Geoffroy.

“The private gifts of this magnitude will truly help move the Greenlee School into the ranks of the very best schools of journalism and mass communication in the country,” he said.

Geoffroy also said the funds will “help recruit great faculty, better students and to develop unique academic programs for which students will benefit.”

John Eighmey, professor and outgoing director of the Greenlee School, called the monetary gifts “truly transformational.”

“To raise $18 million in about a five-year period of time for any program is a remarkable thing,” Eighmey said. “We really need to recognize and honor the generosity of the 1,800 people who helped this happen.”

Jason Menke, assistant director of communications for the ISU Foundation, said the campaign will support four educational priorities: increasing the scholarship program for undergraduate and graduate students, providing program support for student learning opportunities and faculty development, creating professorships and named chairs to support learning faculty, and renovating Hamilton Hall, which began last year and should wrap up by the fall semester.

Menke said many of the gifts are pledges and deferred gifts that will be realized in future years.

“We’re very pleased to have this campaign behind us,” he said.

“For a campaign of this magnitude for a journalism school to complete is a tremendous feather in the hat.”

Robert Greenlee, a former mayor of Boulder, Colo., graduated from the journalism department at Iowa State in 1963.

His wife, Diane, graduated in journalism two years later in 1965.

“We deeply appreciate the generosity of Bob and Diane Greenlee for their lead commitment and for initiating the Greenlee challenge [of matching the $9 million donation],” Geoffroy said.

Eighmey said people need to especially recognize the generosity of the Greenlees.

“The Greenlees are extraordinary, visual people,” Eighmey said. “Their entire philosophy is to invest in the hopes and dreams of others and to help our students realize the American Dream to the extent they have, or beyond.”

Marcia Prior-Miller, associate professor of journalism in the Greenlee School, said she was pleased by the news of the achievement in fund-raising efforts.

“We really appreciate what the Greenlees have done for us,” she said.

The Greenlee School, which is part of Iowa State’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is the largest and most comprehensive journalism and communication program in Iowa.

Undergraduate enrollment in the Greenlee School has increased more than 30 percent since the naming of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication in 1998, and the school is now the third-largest undergraduate program at Iowa State.

Eighmey said the school’s goal is to provide the best possible learning environment for students to realize their dreams.

“It’s all about student impact and advancing their opportunities,” Eighmey said.

“That’s the paramount thing to all of the faculty and staff here in the Greenlee School.”