On February 18, 2025, Ursinus College’s “News” website page released an article titled “$3.2 Million Gift Elevates the Parlee Center for Science and the Common Good at Ursinus College.” This article provided information about a $3.2 million gift from Joan Bradley Parlee ’57 and Donald Parlee, M.D. ’55, which includes $1 million dedicated to creating the Parlee Endowed Scholarship Fund and over $2 million to support the Parlee Center for Science and the Common Good.
“The money comes at a time when the college is implementing APEX (Applied. Professional. Experiential), an approach that integrates liberal education with professional development for all students,” stated Dr. Rebecca Lyczak, Professor of Biology. She continues, “The gift will be used to expand the impact of the Parlee Center, including creation of a large interdisciplinary innovation center on campus as well as the creation of new experiential and applied learning opportunities for students.”
Ursinus College’s article about the monetary gift states, “Founded in 2018 and named for Joan and Don Parlee, the Parlee Center exemplifies Ursinus’s commitment to preparing students with the skills and experiences they need to become forward-thinking leaders and innovative problem-solvers.”
“Science has an enormous impact on our world, for good and for ill. This means that Ursinus students, many of whom will go on to become scientists, health care workers, or policy makers, have a responsibility to consider the consequences of their work and to explain to others its potential benefits and risks. The Parlee Center exists to prepare Ursinus students for this responsibility,” stated Dr. Robert Dawley, Professor of Biology and Co-Director of the Parlee Center for Science and the Common Good.
Parlee Fellows don’t take this responsibility lightly. Parlee Fellows are students interested in science, mathematics, or medicine and in its impact on society and are selected for their potential to become outstanding civic as well as scientific leaders. Parlee Fellow Tilly Dumaine ’25 chose to apply to become a Parlee Fellow because of her interests in how societal issues affect science, health, and medicine – and vice versa. She says, “I wanted to be able to contribute to a program that uplifts these issues and educates the student body about them through events like our lecture series. Additionally, I wanted an opportunity to work alongside like-minded peers that share these values.”
“The Parlee Center means a lot to me. I have been able to learn from and be inspired by many scientific professionals working at the intersection of science and society. I want to lead a life with purpose and meaning, and the speakers have imparted such valuable information and guidance on how to achieve these life and career objectives,” states Dumaine. Dumaine is certainly not alone in her views on the important impact of the Parlee Center on not only her education but also on her personal life and experiences.
As a freshman at Ursinus, Ashton Newswanger ’26 “fell in love with science and philosophy at large and had a deep desire to connect the two.” Newswanger said, “I attended a series of Parlee Center events and felt that the possibility of being a Parlee Fellow would be perfect for me; a way to unite my passion for neuroscience and bioethics. That spring I was nominated by Dr. Robert Dawley to become a Fellow, and I was delighted.” Newswanger joined as a Parlee Fellow in the late spring of 2023 and organized his first Parlee event the following fall, inviting journalist Erin Reed to campus. Since then, Newswanger became the Parlee Center’s Communications Outreach Associate and organized a second event that occurred this past February, inviting Erin Reed to return to campus.
“The Parlee Center for Science and the Common Good has had a massive and tangible impact on my life, career, and education. Above all, it has made me far more confident in my abilities as a professional, a scientist, and a researcher. Working alongside Dr. Dawley and other incredible Fellows to develop themes for our speaker series has been a wonderful experience and helped me learn how to network with fellow scientists and advocate for real tangible change for my communities,” stated Newswanger.
In some cases, in a college education, students may struggle to visualize exactly how certain lessons or curricula will directly apply to their future. However, this is not the case regarding the Parlee Center’s work. According to Dumaine, “The Parlee Center’s work and values are incredibly important. We live in a dynamic world experiencing constant change and evolving problems. My education through the Science and the Common Good has highlighted how intersectional many of our societal problems are. By learning about these problems, we can understand how to better address them as we enter careers in the real world.”
In their generous gift and contributions to Ursinus College, Joan and Don Parlee are not only helping current Ursinus students but are also helping the world that these students will be sent out into, entering society now prepared with dedication and determination to change the world for the better.