Drexel University Receives $112 Million Gift, The Largest In Its History

Drexel University announced it received a historic $112.6 million gift from the Howley Foundation, the largest in its history, to establish the Nick Howley College of Engineering and Computing and fund renovations and scholarships. The gift will support 5,000+ students across 60 programs, including a new undergraduate degree in artificial intelligence and machine learning, along with state-of-the-art labs and experiential learning spaces." "article": "Drexel University has secured its largest-ever donation of $112.6 million from the Howley Foundation, established by alumnus and trustee W. Nicholas 'Nick' Howley, his wife Lorie, and their daughter Meg. The funds will create the Nick Howley College of Engineering and Computing, combining the School of Engineering, School of Computer and Information Sciences, and School of Biomedical Engineering and Science into one academic unit enrolling over 5,000 students. The college will introduce a new undergraduate degree in artificial intelligence and machine learning. The gift will renovate 55,000 square feet of engineering facilities, including labs for robotics, flight simulation, jet engines, and chemical engineering, as well as a 10,000-square-foot Innovation Garage for hands-on projects like building electric vehicles and rockets. Work on these spaces is set to begin in spring 2027. About $76 million will establish an endowment for scholarships and programs, while $36 million will fund facility upgrades. The Howley Family Immersive Learning Center will house specialized labs like soil analysis and cell therapy research, reinforcing Drexel’s co-op experiential learning model. The Howley College Scholars program, launched in 2022, will also receive additional support to provide scholarships for students from Philadelphia and Cleveland, regardless of financial circumstances. Nick Howley, a Drexel mechanical engineering graduate and Harvard MBA holder, co-founded TransDigm Group and Perimeter Solutions. He emphasized Drexel’s role in upward social and economic mobility through its education model. Drexel President Antonio Merlo called the gift a 'powerful affirmation' of the university’s leadership in innovation and impact.