$30 million gift to university from Michael and Allison Rees aims to attract outstanding first-year students
The University of Pittsburgh has received a $30 million gift from Michael Rees and family to create a program within its highly ranked honors college to attract outstanding first-year students and support them over the course of their undergraduate degree.
The gift creates an endowed fund that will expand the number of David C. Frederick Honors College students receiving full room, board, and tuition scholarships through the existing Chancellor’s Scholars program.
The cohort of 64 students at a time, now known as Rees-Chancellor’s Scholars, will each receive an annual, funded enrichment opportunity to cover the cost of experiential learning opportunities, providing them with financial support to pursue their passions and develop their leadership.
“Michael Rees exemplifies the possibilities of a Pitt education,” said Chancellor Joan Gabel. “His transformational gift not only ensures that the best and brightest continue to choose and be served by Pitt, but also that our honors college continues its incredible momentum.”
This gift will create one of the most holistic scholarship programs and robust honors college education in the country through an individualized educational and co-curricular program supported by dedicated advisors.
In addition to providing generous scholarship support and funding for research, internships, career development, networking, and other enrichment experiences, the gift will add additional staff members to the Frederick Honors College, creating a team dedicated to supporting the cohort.
The new team members will establish a recruitment pipeline to attract the best candidates and will work with each student to personalize their Frederick Honors College experience, providing targeted guidance on applying for and preparing for international scholarships, such as Rhodes and Fulbright.
“My time at Pitt laid the foundation for my career, and my honors program experiences are what really shaped me into the person I am today,” said Rees, who earned bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering and political science from the University. “I’m excited to see the next generation of students enjoy even greater benefits and to help this program reach new heights.”
At a meeting with students just before the announcement of the gift on Nov. 14, Rees advised them to remain engaged and make the most of their opportunities at Pitt. A large portion of the gift will be used to provide the scholars with experiential learning, which Rees said is essential for creating well-rounded graduates—and something employers value.
Throughout his undergraduate career, Rees was an active participant in the University Honors College, received a Chancellor’s Scholarship, and won the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship.
He received a Department of Defense Research Fellowship and earned graduate degrees in mechanical engineering and technology policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He later founded Dyal Capital, which is a predecessor firm to Blue Owl Capital Inc., where Rees is co-president and a member of the board of directors.
Michael and Allison Rees stand under the Rees Commons sign.
Michael Rees, pictured with wife Allison, said at a Nov. 14 ceremony that he hopes his gift will help make the Frederick Honors College a leader in a pack of highly competitive honors colleges.
Michael Rees reaches out to shake hands with David Frederick.
“Your support is magnificent. The additional assets it provides will enrich students and elevate the program,” David C. Frederick (right) told Rees at the Nov. 14 event.
Beyond full tuition and housing support, Rees-Chancellor’s Scholars will experience funded enrichment opportunities such as research, study abroad, and specialized retreats — including experiences involving Frederick Honors College partner University College, Oxford — that will give students the freedom to explore their passions in preparation for post-graduate success.
The first cohort of students supported by this gift will matriculate in the 2027-28 academic year. Comprehensive nationwide recruitment efforts funded through the gift will identify the most qualified students competing for spots in top college programs for this and subsequent classes.
The Rees-Chancellor’s Scholars program will continue in perpetuity, adding 16 new incoming students each year, developing society’s next generation of leaders and scholarly change makers.
Under the leadership of Frederick Honors College Dean Nicola Foote, who arrived at Pitt in 2021, the University has expanded the college’s programming, attracting new applicants from around the globe and earning a No. 11 ranking on College Transitions’ 50 Best Honors Colleges list.
This innovative program aims to reinvent the way honors students are identified, recruited, and supported throughout their academic careers, adopting a model similar to that of student athletes.
Rees attributes this cohort model and the connections he made during his time in Pitt’s honors college to many of the personal and professional relationships he has maintained since then.
“Adding these experiential learning and development opportunities to the Rees-Chancellor’s Scholars’ experiences will cultivate student success and propel innovation,” Foote said. “This will ensure that students know early on that the University of Pittsburgh is excited about their potential and that we have committed to their education.”