An alumni couple, who wish to remain anonymous, made a $22 million gift to two priority projects at Iowa State.

Part of the donation will go toward supporting the Student Innovation Center, an $80 million project approved by the Board of Regents in September to give students the chance to practice hands-on experience. The public/private partnership is projected to be split about evenly between the state and private donations. 

The other portion of the donation will go toward creating an endowed dean’s chair in the College of Human Sciences. Dean Pamela White will be the holder, according to a university release.

The dean’s chair will provide the chance to pursue initiatives and programs outside normal academics, the release stated.

“We are extremely thankful to this wonderful couple for their extraordinary generosity toward their alma mater,” ISU President Steven Leath said in the release. “Through their gift, they assure that the mission of this great university will be advanced for generations to come through the creation of a facility that fosters innovative, interdisciplinary learning and also by enhancing educational opportunities in the College of Human Sciences.”