Million-dollar day for Nipissing University

Nipissing University has received its biggest ever donation from one person.

The money will be used to help teach literacy and language arts.

Further information is included in the following news release issued by the university this morning:
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Dr. Elizabeth Thorn dedicated her life to the teaching of language and literacy.

She inspired educators
around the world with her wisdom, passion and commitment to that subject.

She was an intellectual icon at Nipissing University and last night, at a ceremony in her honour, the university announced the creation of the Dr. Elizabeth Thorn Chair in Literacy and Language Arts.

The Chair is made possible thanks to a $1 million planned gift made to Nipissing University through Dr. Thorn’s estate.

That is the largest personal donation ever made to Nipissing University and illuminates just how much Nipissing University and education meant to Dr. Thorn,
who passed away in 2002.

“Dr. Thorn cared so deeply about this university that she named Nipissing a beneficiary in her estate,” said Nipissing University president, Dr. Dennis Mock.

“I think that speaks to the fact that the people who work and study here have a special bond with the institution
and care deeply about its success.”

The Dr. Elizabeth Thorn Chair in Literacy and Language Arts will allow Nipissing University to attract and hire a distinguished senior scholar at the full professor rank to act as a leader in conducting cutting-edge research in the area of reading and literacy.

The individual will be a catalyst for launching the research agenda and will lead a team of researchers in application for government grants.

“This is a milestone announcement for Nipissing,” said Mock.

“It is our first endowed Research Chair and our largest personal gift. But more importantly it ensures that Dr. Thorn’s passion for, and commitment to education will continue to be passed on to future generations.”