The CHESS Student Resilience Endowed Fund at PNW
Investing in Student Success
Research has shown that a student will drop out of college because of an unexpected, yet affordable circumstance. The CHESS Student Resilience Endowed Fund at PNW has been established by Dr. Richard Sévère to ensure the perseverance of current and future students at Purdue Northwest.
Please consider joining Richard, the new Dean of PNW’s largest college, in building an endowed fund that provides support for student emergencies now and in the future.
Supporting Student Growth
Dr. Richard Sévère exemplifies personal resilience through a career marked by academic excellence, leadership, and a steadfast commitment to equity and innovation in higher education. Rising from his roots as a first-generation college student and graduate of Florida A&M University, Sévère went on to earn a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature from Purdue University.
His journey through various leadership roles—including associate dean at Valparaiso University and founding director of transformative programs at Centenary University—reflects his ability to adapt, lead, and uplift diverse academic communities.
His scholarship in medieval literature, writing studies and vocational discernment, all demonstrate his commitment to addressing equity and challenges in a variety of disciplines.
Now at the helm of PNW’s largest academic college, Sévère brings a resilient spirit shaped by experience, vision and a deep understanding of the transformative power of education.
The CHESS Student Resilience Endowed Fund at PNW has been established by Dr. Richard Sévère to ensure the perseverance of current and future students at Purdue Northwest.
About Your Contribution
Your contribution will be commingled with the funds of other donors as we work to fully fund an endowment to provide funds for short-term emergencies for students pursuing a degree from CHESS at PNW.
An endowment requires a minimum of $25,000.00 in contributions within five years. Once the minimum is reached, the revenue will be used to support the CHESS Resilience Fund to provide funds for short-term emergencies for students pursuing a degree from CHESS at PNW.
If this minimum is not reached within five years, then the amount in the fund will be spent outright until exhausted and the endowment fund will terminate. Additionally, if less than $10,000 is pledged or received within 6 months of the endowment’s establishment, all funds and future funds will be distributed to support short-term emergencies as detailed above until exhausted, and the endowment will not come to fruition.