$20 million naming gift to university from former refugee Kimmy Duong transforms school of computing

In one of the largest gifts in George Mason University’s history, McLean business leader Kimmy Duong has donated $20 million through the Kimmy Duong Foundation to support the university’s College of Engineering and Computing.

The gift is expected to have an overall impact of $36 million through matching programs and related initiatives.

In recognition of the donation, the university will rename its computing school the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong School of Computing, honoring both Duong and her husband, Long Nguyen.

This marks the couple’s second major contribution to George Mason; in 2009, Nguyen donated $5 million, leading to the naming of the Nguyen Engineering Building.

The new $20 million gift will fund three major endowments—two dedicated to scholarships and student success within the College of Engineering and Computing, and one supporting scholarships through University Life, particularly for students majoring in nursing, education, and journalism.

“This is a transformational gift,” said George Mason President Gregory Washington. “Kimmy Duong’s life story mirrors that of many of our students—immigrants, first-generation college students, individuals overcoming enormous odds—and her generosity will open doors for countless future leaders.”

Born in Vietnam and arriving in the United States after the fall of Saigon with only $30 and limited English, Duong built a successful career at IBM and later helped lead Pragmatics, an IT company founded by Nguyen.

After retiring, Duong launched the Kimmy Duong Foundation in 2015, focusing on health, education, and welfare in the U.S. and Vietnam.

The university’s board of visitors has already approved the school’s name change, pending final authorization from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia later this year.

The gift also advances George Mason’s ambitious $1 billion fundraising campaign launched in 2023.

Influenced by her Buddhist background, Kimmy Duong has always been concerned about the poor and sick.

Being raised in a poor family and coming to the US in 1975 as a refugee, Mrs. Duong knows the many challenges that poverty brings.

So throughout most of her life, Mrs. Duong has generously donated to charitable causes such as the Vietnamese Association for the Handicapped; scholarships for High School students in Nha Trang; housing for the poor in Hue, My Tho, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet; cataract surgery for the poor in Can Tho; and medical care for the poor in Hue and Nha Trang.

Since coming to the US, Mrs. Duong has also contributed to the Code of Support scholarships for Veterans, the University of Maryland, Montgomery College and Northern VA Community College Scholarship Funds, and numerous Vietnamese American student scholarships.

Recently, Mrs. Duong formed the Kimmy Duong Foundation to support all this work in a more structured and sustainable way.

Mrs. Duong joined Pragmatics, Inc. in 1987, following a successful career at IBM.

She currently serves as Pragmatics’ Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer.

Mrs. Duong is awarded Mason Medal from GMU and Glen Martin Medal from UMD.

Mrs. Duong earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Saigon.

In 2008, Mrs. Duong was selected as one of Profiles in Diversity Journal’s Women Worth Watching.

She is married to Dr. Long Nguyen and resides in Virginia.