Dear Wayne State community, 
 
I am thrilled to share the news of a truly historic gift to Wayne State University! 
 
Our esteemed alumnus James A. Anderson (B.S.C.E. ’66, M.S.C.E. ’70) and his wife, Patricia, have made a $50 million gift to Wayne State University to advance excellence in the College of Engineering by accelerating research and entrepreneurship and promoting student success. This gift is the single largest in Wayne State’s 157-year history and will serve as the cornerstone of our upcoming comprehensive fundraising campaign.  
 
In recognition of their generosity, the college will be renamed the James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering. 
 
This gift is transformative for our engineering faculty, staff and students, enhancing success at all levels. The gift will be focused on faculty support, including doctoral fellowships, undergraduate student experiences and a dean’s fund, which, under the leadership of Dean Ali Abolmaali, will empower the college to recruit more top faculty and Ph.D. students, driving faculty research in mobility, battery and energy, AI, and more. The gift will also strengthen student initiatives, creating a direct line between students and life-changing careers that drive economic growth and innovation in our city and state. 
 
Their incredible generosity reflects Jim and Patti’s belief in what we’re doing and achieving at Wayne State, advanced and underscored by our Prosperity Agenda. Their gift ensures that our graduates will power the future of Detroit and Michigan’s economy into the next era of innovation and support our accomplished faculty to nurture their ideas into solutions and thriving businesses. 

Jim began his career in 1967 as an instructor at the College of Engineering, where he developed environmental models and computer mapping techniques to display data. Soon after, he established Urban Science, a leading automotive consultancy and technology firm headquartered in Detroit, now with 20 offices around the world. As president and CEO, Jim has recruited numerous Wayne State alumni to work alongside him. 
 
Jim and Patti’s passion for engineering and entrepreneurship, along with their enduring commitment to Wayne State, make it fitting that the college will now be named for two of our greatest advocates. We now build on more than a century of engineering talent that created a culture of innovation in our city. Please join me in recognizing Dean Abolmaali, Kris Thiesen and the outstanding Anderson College faculty, students and staff for their commitment to advancing excellence. With this incredible gift, the James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering will be known as Detroit’s engineering school, setting a new standard of discovery and invention for generations. 

I encourage you to check out the website and watch the video to learn more about Jim and Patti’s unique story of impact for our university, city and across the globe. 


 
Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy 
President