Rider Receives $4M To Fund Expansion Of Science and Tech Center

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Rider University received $4 million in leadership gift from alumnus Mike Hennessy, to expand the science and technology center. The announcement was made on Monday, when the university broke ground on a new wing at the science center.

The gift is the largest ever received at Rider for the sciences.

“This is such an impactful gift for Rider as it will provide for the continued growth of our programs in the sciences,” says Kelly Bidle, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

“This project underscores Rider’s commitment to providing students with the resources and training needed to pursue careers in high-demand fields. We are deeply grateful that it has gotten support at this level,” Bidle said.

The University plans to name the building the Mike and Patti Hennessy Science and Technology Center. The construction is scheduled to be completed January 2022.

Hennessy met his wife, Patrice “Patti” Shelmet Hennessy, at Rider when they were both students. Patti, who passed away in January after a long illness, graduated from Rider with a bachelor’s in office administration.

The one-story addition will expand the size of the building to more than 79,000 sq. ft. and provide modern labs and classroom space for cybersecurity, anatomy and physiology, as well as an evolving program in software engineering.

Hennessy, who earned a bachelor’s in political science from Rider, is the founder and chairman of MJH Life Sciences. He served as a Rider Trustee for nine years, completing his third three-year term in 2017.

“Rider is grateful to Mike for supporting all of our efforts over the years,” Rider President Gregory G. Dell’Omo said in a statement.

“We’re particularly excited about this leadership gift for our Science and Technology Center expansion project. We’ve seen tremendous growth in our science majors and this construction project will provide us with an opportunity to introduce new, high demand majors. As a former Trustee, Mike is aware of the importance of offering such programs to our students,” said Dell’Omo

The university is currently fundraising to support the project. Those wishing to make a gift can visit rider.edu/sciencebuilding.

For more information on the project, please contact Senior Director of Development Pamela Mingle at 609-896-7725 or pamingle@rider.edu.

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