George Mason University has received a $36 million gift from the Kimmy Duong Foundation. The School of Computing within the College of Engineering and Computing will be renamed the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong School of Computing. The name change was approved by the university’s Board of Visitors on April 1 and will become official pending approval from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia this summer.
“We are so grateful to Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong for their continued support of the College of Engineering and Computing, now culminating in this generous gift,” said Dean Ken Ball. “We are proud to steward this gift in support of our students and the commonwealth’s Tech Talent Investment Program. George Mason is honored to be part of their legacy in Northern Virginia.”
The Duongs have been long-time benefactors of George Mason University.
In 2009, they donated $5 million for the Nguyen Engineering Building, a state-of-the-art facility for engineering, computing, and information technology education and research. “Kimmy Duong and Long Nguyen recognize the opportunities our university provides for students to succeed,” said George Mason University President Gregory Washington. “Kimmy’s journey from arriving in this country with very little to achieving success mirrors the challenges many of our students face.
This transformational gift ensures that George Mason will continue to lead in computing for many years to come.”
The naming of the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong School of Computing is an essential milestone in Mason Now: Power the Possible, George Mason’s $1 billion comprehensive fundraising campaign. This campaign aims to expand access to education, drive innovation, and increase the university’s impact regionally and beyond. “This transformational gift from the Kimmy Duong Foundation marks a pivotal moment in the Mason Now campaign,” said Trishana E.
Duong gift supports student success
Bowden, vice president for advancement and alumni relations and president of the George Mason University Foundation. “The naming of the School of Computing stands as a powerful testament to their belief in George Mason’s mission and commitment to expanding access to education, particularly in fields that shape innovation.”
Kimmy Duong, born in Nha Trang, Vietnam, in 1945, has a compelling history of overcoming adversity.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and law from the University of Saigon in 1966 and began her career at IBM in 1968. After fleeing Vietnam in 1975 with only $30, she continued her career with IBM in the U.S. and later joined Pragmatics in Northern Virginia, where she served as vice chairwoman and CFO. In 2015, she established the Kimmy Duong Foundation, which supports various health, education, and welfare initiatives in the United States and Vietnam.
The foundation has contributed over $4 million towards scholarship programs in the Washington, D.C., area. “Education is the cornerstone of life,” Duong recently told George Mason students. “Now, we are giving back.”
The Duong gift will establish three endowments: two within the College of Engineering and Computing to support scholarships and student success initiatives related to the Tech Talent Investment Program, and one within University Life to provide scholarships with a preference for students majoring in nursing, education, or journalism.
A portion of the funds dedicated to computing-specific majors will be eligible for matching from the Tech Talent Investment Program, amplifying the gift’s impact. The Tech Talent Investment Program aims to increase the number of graduates with computing degrees and strengthen the workforce by providing financial incentives to colleges and universities. George Mason’s School of Computing is renowned for its expertise in computer science, artificial intelligence, and software engineering, contributing significantly to Northern Virginia’s tech ecosystem through its proximity to Washington, D.C., and partnerships with major government and industry players.
This generous contribution will ensure that George Mason University remains at the forefront of technological education and innovation, continually enhancing its impact and reach.
Image Credits: Photo by Mathieu Turle on Unsplash
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