$11 Million Gift Will Transform Undergraduate Science at Warren Wilson College

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Oct 12, 2026, 08:32 ET

Historic investment expands hands-on scientific research in climate, ecological, and health sciences

SWANNANOA, N.C., Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Warren Wilson College has received an $11 million gift from anonymous donors—the largest gift in the College's history—to transform its science facilities and expand opportunities for undergraduate research in climate, ecological, environmental, and health sciences.

Warren Wilson College, located in western North Carolina, has protected 800 acres of its 1,000 acre campus in perpetuity, preserving the beauty and ecological character of the Swannanoa Valley for generations to come.

As one of 10 work colleges with federal designation, Warren Wilson College students establish a foundation of practical, hands-on experience, thereby preparing them to innovate. Technology, democracy, health earth sciences, climate, farming and nourishment accessibility, forestry, and the arts are sustainable and central to education and applied in everyday career preparation.

The gift launches Advancing Science in Action for the Common Good, a comprehensive initiative to renovate and re-equip the College's science facilities, add advanced scientific instrumentation and digital learning spaces, and establish an endowed fund for future equipment needs. The investment will strengthen Warren Wilson's distinctive model of hands-on, interdisciplinary science education, giving undergraduates access to independent research experiences and scientific tools typically reserved for graduate-level study.

Approximately 375 students—nearly half the student body—major or plan to major in STEM disciplines, including Environmental Sciences and the College's new Animal Sciences program. The College's Health Sciences program, which is currently in development, and the Master's in Applied Climate Studies program will benefit as well.

"This gift underscores and amplifies our distinctive excellence in the sciences and science-aligned fields," said Damián J. Fernández, President. "The generosity of our donors will allow us to deepen our commitment to the sciences, finalize our new Health Sciences program, and attract additional students."

The initiative will include:

Flexible teaching and research laboratories designed for team-based investigation, with modern ventilation and adjacent collaboration space.
New scientific instrumentation supporting research ranging from carbon sequestration and soil health to genetics, animal science and human health.
Anatomy and physiology laboratories supporting the new Health Sciences program.
A Geographic Information Systems (GIS) laboratory and digital learning spaces incorporating virtual reality and simulation.
Upgrades to the greenhouse complex and Forestry facilities at the Center for Working Lands.
An endowed equipment fund supporting future scientific instrumentation and technology.

The project will renovate three existing buildings rather than construct a new science center, allowing the College to strengthen its scientific infrastructure while minimizing new construction. Because laboratories are among the most energy-intensive spaces on a college campus, the project will also prioritize high standards for energy performance and reduced operating costs.

The investment builds on Warren Wilson's model of learning science by doing science. Students work alongside faculty on research connected to the natural world and gain experience with the tools, technologies and methods used by professional scientists—often opportunities typically reserved for graduate students.

"This gift gives us an extraordinary opportunity to rethink what undergraduate science can look like," Fernández said. "We want our students to leave Warren Wilson not only knowing how science works, but knowing how to use science to make the world work better."

About Warren Wilson College
Warren Wilson College is a vibrant, independent college with an innovative curriculum that purposefully integrates the liberal arts with community engagement and work experiences to prepare students for not only professional success, but also a life of meaning. Visit https://www.warren-wilson.edu.

Media Contact:
Ally Hughes
Director of Public Relations
Core Education | Warren Wilson College
310-500-8488
[email protected]

SOURCE Warren Wilson College