2-13-96
Contacts:
Beverly Crabtree, College of Family and Consumer Sciences,
(515) 294-0860
Sarah Buck, Foundation, (515) 294-5954
Michelle Johnson, News Service, (515) 294-8986
NEW ISU BUILDING TO FURTHER THE STUDY
OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University alumni James R. Palmer and Barbara Raeder Palmer, State College, Pa., have contributed $1 million toward the construction of a new building for ISU's College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
The facility, which ISU will recommend to the State Board of Regents to be named for the Palmers, will house the human development and family studies department and will consolidate personnel and programs presently divided among five different locations on campus. These programs include the Child Development Laboratory School, the Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic, and the Financial Counseling Clinic.
"Barbara and Jim Palmer's gift demonstrates their commitment both to the students and staff at Iowa State University, and to the well-being of Iowa children and families," said ISU President Martin Jischke. "The Palmer Human Development and Family Studies Building will allow Iowa State to better serve Iowans by strengthening important programs contributing to the social and economic growth of families. We are deeply appreciative of the Palmers' generosity and their dedication to the people of Iowa."
"We are happy to be a part of the new building for human development and family studies," said Barbara Palmer. "One of the crisis issues in our country today is the need to strengthen the family and to provide for the children throughout the world. The education
and research that will be housed in the new facility is important in furthering those goals."
The 21,600-square-foot facility will be constructed adjacent to the east wing of MacKay Hall on central campus. The total cost of the project is $5.3 million. To date, $4.55 million has been raised through private donations and university funds.
"This gift from Barbara and Jim Palmer is truly an investment in children and families, the human capital that is needed for our society's social and economic growth and stability. Because of their generosity, 1996 is indeed a very significant and exciting period in the history of our college. The Palmer gift will continue to enhance our programming related to children, families, and consumers-- programming for which our college has long been recognized as a national and international leader," said ISU Family and Consumer Sciences Dean Beverly Crabtree.
Barbara Raeder Palmer graduated from Iowa State in 1946 with a degree in home economics. Jim Palmer received a degree in electrical engineering from ISU in 1944. For 31 years, Jim served as chief executive of C-COR Electronics, Inc., a firm that develops and manufactures amplifiers and other devices for data communications and cable television industries. Barbara was a director of C-COR for more than 23 years.
The Palmers are avid art collectors. They developed their interest in art more than 20 years ago while traveling widely on business trips and vacations. They have loaned works from their collection to museums and exhibitions throughout the country, including ISU's Brunnier Art Museum. The Palmers donated the William King sculpture, Forward, that stands near the Scheman Building.
Construction of the Palmer Human Development and Family Studies Building is scheduled to begin in 1997.
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Diana Pounds (dpounds@iastate.edu) University Relations |
Copyright © 1996 Iowa State University All rights reserved |
URL: http://www.iastate.edu/ general/releases/palmer.html Revised 2/14/96 |