Board hears about recent gifts, summer events and soccer-field groundbreaking

Interim President Dr. Bradford reported several private gifts and campus events during the Governors State University Board of Trustees meeting on June 16, 2025.

Bradford acknowledged two scholarship gifts received in early June: Earthrise, a solar energy company, gave $25,000 to the College of Arts and Sciences for the NAIT Center, and Delta Sigma Boule fraternity donated $30,000 to support student participation in the Ghana Health Brigade. He also recognized that the College of Business raised about $10,000 during its annual business week to support student activities.

Bradford described summer campus programming that aims to expose children and high‑school students to university life. He said the university runs youth camps under the Camp Jaguar brand through the School of Extended Learning and various colleges, and he encouraged trustees to support those efforts. He also announced a free summer concert series hosted by the Center for Performing Arts, with the first concert scheduled for June 26 featuring artist Denise Times.

Trustees were reminded of several campus events and milestones: a 50th‑anniversary celebration scheduled for July 16 in Downtown Park Forest and the board’s annual retreat on Aug. 18 facilitated by Lisa Parker of the Husch Blackwell law firm. A speaker at the meeting also reminded trustees about a soccer‑field groundbreaking scheduled for 1:30 p.m., with a bus to transport participants from the campus entrance.

Bradford concluded his remarks by thanking the board and campus community for support during the presidential transition and noting he will return to his prior chief financial officer role on July 1 as the university prepares for incoming President Dr. Joyce Esther.