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Smullin Foundation Awards $500,000 Grant to CDSP

Church Divinity School of the Pacific has been awarded a grant of $500,000 by the Patricia D. & William B. Smullin Foundation, a family foundation based in Berkeley, California. The funds will support CDSP’s upgrading of information technology, human resources, accounting, student services, financial aid and registration systems.

“This extraordinarily generous grant makes it possible for CDSP to develop and implement systems that will make our life together more efficient, affordable, and consistent with the practices of 21st century institutions,” said the Very Rev. W. Mark Richardson, CDSP’s dean and president. “These new systems will permit us to participate in the Graduate Theological Union and the wider church in more sustainable ways.”

William B. Smullin was a communications pioneer who introduced commercial radio, television and cable television to Southern Oregon and Northern California. He established the foundation, which supports higher education, health education and the Episcopal Church in Northern California and Southern Oregon, in 1990.

Over the summer, Vice President Amy Vogelsang and a team of CDSP staff worked with contractors to launch the new online system for student registration and begin work on many other CDSP administrative functions. When complete, these new systems will provide CDSP students with more responsive and efficient ways to register for classes, apply for financial aid, pay tuition and fees, and handle other administrative tasks.

“I am grateful for the work of the staff, students, vendors and volunteers who have worked hard to help CDSP realize the promise of the Smullin Foundation’s generosity,” says Vogelsang. “Our new systems will give us the flexibility to pioneer new programs and partnerships that will continue to transform CDSP.”

“This grant allows us to implement a modernized suite of services for students, faculty and staff,” said Patrick Delahunt, CDSP’s director of development. “We are deeply indebted to the Smullin Foundation for their commitment to the Episcopal Church and education at CDSP.”

Church Divinity School of the Pacific, a seminary of the Episcopal Church and a member of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, educates students in an ecumenical and interreligious context to develop leaders who can proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world through traditional and emerging ministries. Learn more at www.cdsp.edu.