School of Communication celebrates a major gift to the building project and its 75th anniversary
The upcoming addition to the home of the renowned Jandoli School of Communication now has a name, thanks to the generosity of one of its most accomplished alumni.
A ceremonial groundbreaking for the Henretta Communication Center, a 6,200-square-foot addition to the Murphy Professional Building, was held Oct. 19 as part of the Jandoli School’s 75th anniversary celebration.
For the donors, Deb Henretta from the Class of 1983 and her husband, Sean Murray, their magnanimous gesture is as much about family as it is about philanthropy.
Henretta’s father, Elmer, ’59, and brothers Michael, ’85, and Mark, ’90, are also Bonaventure graduates. Deb and Sean met at St. Bonaventure while he worked at the university from 1980-1982.
Henretta and Murray made the significant commitment to recognize 75 years of transformative education in the Jandoli School and to enhance the educational experience for generations of Bonnies to come.
“Bonaventure has been woven into the fabric of my family for almost 70 years and I know all of us have been grateful for the role our Bona’s experience has played in our lives,” Henretta said. “Much of my success is deeply rooted in the values and lessons learned at St. Bona’s. I am grateful to be in a position to give back to the university and contribute to the success of future generations of Bonaventure students.”
The Henretta Communication Center will be a centerpiece for digital media innovation and experiential learning that will transform the Jandoli School. The state-of-the-art center will include a digital newsroom to bring together the campus media outlets and create a collaborative, future-focused facility.
This capital project will be done in three phases. The Henretta-Murray gift and many others will make phases one and two a reality. Construction of the Henretta Center will begin this winter and is expected to be completed in 18 to 24 months.
“The outpouring of support from alumni and friends of the Jandoli School has been inspiring. We have a bold vision to reinvent the Jandoli School’s facilities to fit the school’s outstanding reputation, but it is only because of the generosity of hundreds of donors that we are able to make this transformation happen for our students.”
– Jandoli School Dean Aaron Chimbel
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