$500,000 Gift to Advance Education Research at the University of Rhode Island

KINGSTON, R.I. — Oct. 2, 2024 — Diane Chace Fannon ’74 and S. Kent Fannon ’74 have made a gift of $500,000 to the Feinstein College of Education at the University of Rhode Island to establish the Diane and Kent Fannon Education Research Endowment.

Faculty will be able to apply for funds from the endowment to support innovative research projects that will help teachers and improve learning outcomes. In addition to preparing teachers for the classroom, the College conducts advanced research on topics including literacy, STEM education, equity and inclusion, teaching with technology, and more.

“I began at URI with the intention of becoming a teacher for life,” said Diane Fannon. “After teaching first grade for two years in Connecticut, my career path took a different turn when we moved to New York. But my belief in the importance of teaching and education never wavered. When we had the opportunity to meet Dean Dennis, it became clear that a research endowment, with its potential to influence education well into the future, would have the longest echo.”

The Fannons attended an informational session from College of Education Dean Danielle Dennis as part of a series of events for 50th reunion attendees. Along with a formal presentation, they were able to talk directly for a deeper dive on strategic initiatives.

“It started with a return to campus for our 50th reunion,” said Kent Fannon. “We heard the dean talk with such passion about the College and were inspired by her vision for the future. We immediately knew we wanted to help.”

While significantly supporting discoveries to improve teaching and learning, the fund will also help to attract top-tier faculty to URI.

“The Diane and Kent Fannon Education Research Endowment will have a profound impact on our College’s research mission,” said Dennis. “Faculty in the college engage in scholarship that directly benefits Rhode Island schools and educational organizations, as well as these entities around the world. This will provide faculty with much needed resources to seed new research and continue their impactful work.”

With this recent gift, Diane and Kent Fannon continue a long tradition of giving to URI. They have made a transformational gift for the creation of The Fannon Student Success Center as part of the renovation of Ballentine Hall for the College of Business, created two endowed scholarships focused on marketing and entrepreneurship, and endowed the College of Business Career Day. They have been actively involved through the years on the College of Business Advisory Council and the University of Rhode Island Foundation & Alumni Engagement Board. Each has received the University of Rhode Island Presidential Distinguished Achievement Award.

The Fannons live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Diane retired as principal at The Richards Group, where she capped off an award-winning career in brand marketing, rising from copywriter to creative director, and then to executive vice president across a series of highly regarded firms. Kent retired as a partner at executive search firm Chartwell Partners, following a series of senior positions in publicly traded and private equity-owned healthcare companies. He began his career at American Airlines, Inc. Along with his degree from URI, he holds an MBA from the University of Chicago.

The Feinstein College of Education at the University of Rhode Island offers a range of bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and teacher certification programs. The College’s programs are certified through the Rhode Island Department of Education and the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation. It enrolls approximately 400 undergraduates and 200 graduate students per year, and its faculty have earned competitive national honors and worldwide recognition for their teaching and scholarship.