$60 million gift to university announced by Andre Stephens aims to boost its nursing program, track and field, and a range of other campus initiatives

Fresno Pacific University President Andre Stephens announced that the university has received a $60 million commitment, the largest gift in the institution’s history, setting in motion a broad expansion of academic, athletic, and campus priorities.

Stephens said the contribution will strengthen areas central to the university’s future, including its nursing program, track and field, and other campus initiatives.

It will also help establish and support a new physical associate program, scheduled to begin in May 2029.

“This is a transformational gift,” Stephens said. “Our students will go out and make a difference.”

The announcement places particular emphasis on the opportunities the funding is expected to create for students, both those currently enrolled and those who will arrive in the years ahead.

Fresno Pacific officials said the investment is intended to deepen the university’s ability to prepare graduates for careers in health care and other fields while expanding student experiences beyond the classroom.

The new physical associate program, in particular, represents a significant addition to the university’s academic offerings.

With health-care workforce needs continuing to shape higher-education planning across California’s Central Valley and beyond, the program is expected to create another pathway for students pursuing patient-facing clinical careers.

The gift also directs new resources toward Fresno Pacific’s nursing program, a major area of demand for colleges and universities serving students interested in entering the health professions.

Strengthening that program could allow the university to broaden training capacity, invest in facilities and equipment, and support students preparing for a field that remains essential to communities throughout the region.

Track and field will also benefit, reflecting the university’s commitment to student life and the role athletics can play in recruiting, campus culture, and alumni engagement. Additional campus projects are expected to be supported through the contribution as university leaders determine how best to align the funding with Fresno Pacific’s long-term priorities.

In a statement released by the university, the donor said the commitment aims to create enduring opportunities for students.

The scale of the investment gives Fresno Pacific unusual flexibility to think beyond immediate needs, Stephens suggested, and to make decisions with future generations in mind.

For Stephens, the announcement is less about a single moment of generosity than about what follows: stronger programs, new academic possibilities, and graduates equipped to serve their professions and communities.

“Our students will go out and make a difference,” he said.