Fayetteville State University News January 30, 2014 Retired NASA Administrator and FSU Alum Makes $25,000 Donation Dr. Carl Person saw his late wife, Mary, mold the minds of children and young adults during her days as a teacher and administrator. He is a firm believer that this country needs more educators like her. That's why Person has made a $25,000 donation to Fayetteville State University (FSU). The donation will be used for scholarships for elementary education majors. "We need outstanding minority teachers at the K-12 level," Person said. "With my wife being a teacher and administrator, this was a fitting tribute to her. She was an outstanding teacher and administrator, but she was also known for making good teachers better teachers." FSU Chancellor James Anderson said he is pleased that Person has selected to honor his wife's legacy by supporting the School of Education. "Dr. Person is a true Bronco in every aspect," Anderson said. "Whenever we call upon him to support the university in any regard, he heeds our call. I am especially grateful to him for his financial support and for his continued loyalty to his alma mater." Person, who currently resides in Lorton, Virginia, about 20 miles outside of Washington, D.C., retired from the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) as Director of Aerospace Research and Career Development after 14 years of service. He graduated from FSU in 1976 with a degree in political science. "I had a great experience at FSU," Person said. "It provided me with, first of all, a great opportunity to get an education. Secondly, it provided me with an opportunity to see my own potential. I grew up on a small farm in rural North Carolina and coming to FSU was a great exposure to something broader than working on the farm or going to the military. I made some life-long friends at FSU, including my wife. I am deeply grateful and owe a lot to Fayetteville State." His late wife's talent as an educator wasn't the lone reason Person made the donation. Prior to working at NASA, Person worked for the United States Department of Education. Helping others reach their educational goals has always been in his blood. "I worked all of my life helping to provide opportunity and access for minority students to get a higher education," Person said. "Prior to working for NASA, I worked for the Department of Education where I provided grants, fellowships and scholarships for minority-serving institutions and students." Person hopes other FSU alums will follow suit and make an investment in the university and its students. "Giving at our minority institutions, let's say, we have a great deal of room for growth in that area," he said. "I was very pleased to be able to do it and I think graduates in my generation are starting now to be in a position to provide more funding and giving and have the mindset to give back to the institutions that gave us our start." Founded in 1867, FSU is the second-oldest public institution in North Carolina. It offers nearly 60 degrees in the arts, sciences, business, and education at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. It serves a student body of more than 6,100 students and has a faculty and staff of approximately 900. For more information, call (910) 672-1474. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.