Fenton Endowment to Provide Additional Learning and Research Opportunities for Biology Department

Manhattan College is proud to announce the establishment of The Linda and Dennis Fenton ’73 Endowed Biology Research Fund, supported by a $1 million gift made to the College. This fund will allow the College and the Biology department to provide vital teaching and research facilities and equipment to attract and retain talented students and faculty.

“Linda and Dennis Fenton understand the importance of strong undergraduate science education and have long been among the College’s most generous supporters,” said Brennan O’Donnell, president of Manhattan College. “Their most recent gift will further strengthen our ability to provide students with an academically excellent, research-intensive experience.”

The Linda and Dennis Fenton ’73 Endowed Biology Research Fund will provide funds in perpetuity to:

• Support undergraduate biology research, with a focus on students who are in the final two years of their undergraduate training.
• Provide additional laboratory equipment as necessary for the continued development of the biology research program.
• Strengthen The Catherine and Robert Fenton Endowed Chair in Biology to assist in the current program, and enable the competitive future recruitment of faculty.
• Support other undergraduate research in conjunction with other professors in the Biology department.

“Manhattan College provided me with a sound and broad education in science in a value-driven and supportive environment,” Dennis Fenton said. “I know that these gifts will help ensure that today’s budding scientists are nurtured and encouraged to pursue their dreams at Manhattan.”

A longtime benefactor to the College, Fenton established The Catherine and Robert Fenton Chair in Biology, named in honor of his parents, in 2004. That position is currently held by Lance Evans, Ph.D., professor of biology.

Fenton received a bachelor of science degree in biology from Manhattan and a Ph.D. in microbiology from Rutgers. He is the owner and CEO of Fenton and Associates, a biotechnology consulting company. Fenton had served as executive vice president of operations at Amgen, where he worked from 1982-2008.

Fenton is a member of the American Society for Microbiology, the American Chemical Society and the Parental Drug Association. He is also a member of the board of directors at several biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.