Rockefeller Center – One of the recipients of the Class of 1964's 50th reunion gift

The Class of 1964's 50th reunion gift of $14.7m to Dartmouth was announced today, of which the Rockefeller Center is a significant beneficiary. The '64 Leadership Initiative supports leadership training through experiential learning, a priority for President Hanlon since his inauguration, and a priority of the Rockefeller Center since its dedication in 1983.

"We want to create citizen-leaders, people who will not only engage in debate but actually shape public debate—men and women of Dartmouth who will organize and influence people to address the most important problems the world faces and to recognize and seize opportunities, whether in business, government, or the nonprofit sector, that will benefit humankind," says President Phil Hanlon '77.

This gift will endow the Center's Policy Research Shop (PRS), a keystone in the Center's portfolio of programs which build leadership skills for Dartmouth students. For 10 years, PRS has been providing students with the opportunity to contribute to current public policy discussions by preparing objective, non-partisan research for state legislators and other policy makers in both New Hampshire and Vermont. Anniversary celebrations will be held this year, honoring this signature Rockefeller Center program.

In addition, the funds from this gift will be used to further enhance the broad array of leadership development opportunities offered through the Center, both in the classroom through courses such as PBPL 43 Social Entrepreneurship and PBPL 85 Global Policy Leadership Practicum, and through co-curricular programs such as the Center's Create Your Path, Dartmouth Leadership Attitudes and Behaviors, Rockefeller Leadership Fellows, and Management and Leadership Development Programs. Several of these were recently highlighted in the Center's Winter Newsletter and more information can be found about all these programs on the Center's website and blog.

These programs combine knowledge, research, skill development, practice, feedback, and reflection in various combinations, making leadership education and practice accessible to greater numbers of students. These offerings are already attracting students who are preparing to become leaders in their fields, including two of this year's three Rhodes Scholars.

It has been very rewarding for the faculty and staff at the Rockefeller Center to use experiential learning as an approach to educating our students for a lifetime of learning and of responsible leadership. With each passing year more students take advantage of our curricular and co-curricular program offerings and emerge with a strong sense of self and confidence in their own vision for their future. This is the transformation that the Rockefeller Center, in partnership now with the Class of 1964, seeks to inspire in each generation of Dartmouth students.

The original Press Release appeared on January 15, 2015.