Thomas A. McCarthy, Chair of AUR鈥檚 Board of Trustees and former Chief Financial Officer of Cigna Corporation, together with his wife Linda, has made a $400,000 commitment in support of the University鈥檚听transformational听campus expansion and renovation project. The McCarthy family鈥檚 contribution听represents听both a personal commitment to AUR鈥檚 future and a meaningful signal to the wider community.听
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Since joining the Board in 2018 and assuming the role of Chair in July 2022, McCarthy has played听a central role听in shaping the University鈥檚 long-term direction. The campus project,听designed to unify and elevate AUR鈥檚听international听academic environment,听stands as one of its most ambitious undertakings to date. His family鈥檚 gift reflects confidence not only in the plan, but in the institution鈥檚 capacity to deliver it.听
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It also arrives at an important inflection point. Under McCarthy鈥檚 leadership, members of the Board of Trustees听are actively听stepping听forward in support of the project,听establishing听early philanthropic momentum and a shared sense of responsibility. Their participation signals a collective belief that those closest to the institution听are听confidently听investing听in its future.听
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鈥淭he campus expansion is about more than buildings,鈥听McCarthy noted.听鈥淚t is about strengthening a truly international academic community at a time when global understanding has never been more important. Linda and I are proud to support听that mission and the future it听represents.鈥听
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As the campaign continues, the message is clear: the future of AUR is being shaped not only through planning, but through participation. Early leadership has set the pace听-听now the broader community is invited to build alongside it.听
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If you would like more information about the University's campus expansion project or would like to understand how you could help support AUR, contact Steve Caraher, AUR's Chief Advancement Officer, at s.caraher@aur.edu.