By Paul Feinberg
When UCLA Professors Don and Sherie Morrison were given the opportunity to honor their friend Marion Anderson with a gift toward the construction of the building that would bear her name, they did not hesitate. As a result of their generosity, Marion Anderson Hall will include the Morrison Family Board Room, named for the two professors and benefactors. The groundbreaking on the hall, the latest addition to the Anderson complex, will take place later this year.
The Morrisons’ decision was born of the close friendship the pair had with both Marion and John Anderson. The two couples were friends for many years before John Anderson passed away in 2011 and Marion just last spring.
“Over the years, she became one of our dearest friends. We just enjoyed spending time with her,” says Don. “We admired her so much. You combine all of this, with me as a professor, Sherie as part of the community and our two daughters with MBAs, and with such great colleagues here, including Dean Judy (Olian) — what else could we do?”
The answer to that last question was a substantial gift by the Morrisons in support of Marion Anderson Hall. The 64,000-square-foot facility is designed to serve and promote community and collaboration. It will be the hub of student life, bringing the community together in common areas, meeting rooms and active-learning classrooms that will be state-of-the-art. Its spaces will be bright and open, with many floor-to-ceiling windows and a four-story atrium bringing in natural light. Once completed, Marion Anderson Hall will serve as home to the entire Anderson family, a physical representation of the school’s “One Anderson” credo.
“When the email came around about the naming gifts for Marion Anderson Hall, I thought it was perfect for us because Dean Judy is not only a dear friend, I think she’s the best of the 15 deans that I’ve worked with in my career,” says Don. “In addition, we so admired and so loved Marion. We thought, ‘This is kind of a no-brainer.’”
Says Sherie: “Giving is about where your money and time make a difference. One of the reasons we have been generous with Anderson is due to our two daughters, who earned their MBAs there, and who now enjoy very successful business careers.
“During the 27 years that Don and I have been with UCLA, we have been embraced by the Anderson community.”
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