$10 million gift to university from Megan Maguire Nicoletti and family launches exercise science program in a cutting-edge healthcare innovation center
Megan Maguire Nicoletti, President and CEO of the Maguire Foundation, has revealed a $10 million gift from her family’s foundation to Gwynedd Mercy University (GMercyU).
The transformational donation will support the creation of the Frances M. Maguire Healthcare Innovation Center and the launch of a new Exercise Science program, both set to debut in Fall 2025.
The Frances M. Maguire Healthcare Innovation Center, currently under construction, will span 63,000 square feet (0.59 ha), making it the largest academic building on GMercyU’s campus. The state-of-the-art facility will foster interdisciplinary education and collaboration, housing programs in social work, psychology, computer information science, and the newly developed exercise science major.
The new Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science program is designed to prepare students for careers in health and wellness, fitness, sports medicine, and rehabilitation sciences. It aligns with GMercyU’s commitment to a holistic model of care, training students to consider physical fitness and the mental, emotional, and social factors that impact a patient’s overall health.
“This gift is a continuation of our family’s long-standing commitment to supporting education, health, and community development,” said Nicoletti. “We are proud to invest in a university that is shaping the next generation of compassionate, well-rounded healthcare professionals.”
University President Deanne H. D’Emilio praised the Maguire Foundation for its continued partnership: “This extraordinary gift will accelerate our vision to lead in innovative healthcare education and to serve the evolving needs of our region and beyond.”
The Maguire Foundation has strongly supported educational and healthcare initiatives throughout the Philadelphia region.
This latest donation is among the largest in GMercyU’s history and underscores the university’s growing reputation as a hub for healthcare innovation.