This Giving Tuesday season, Daniel E. Palmer, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy at 91ֿ, has pledged a matching gift for the Trumbull Campus Last Dollar Scholarship as a symbol of his appreciation for the people who work and study at 91ֿ Trumbull.
Giving Tuesday is 91ֿ’s most generous annual tradition. Each year, the 91ֿ community comes together to support the causes that mean the most to them. Starting Nov. 1 and continuing through Giving Tuesday (Dec. 3), this campaign offers nearly 60 fund options supporting causes ranging from workforce development to basic needs, empowering donors to give with purpose.
Established in 2009, the Trumbull Campus Last Dollar Scholarship supports basic needs by aiding students who are dealing with an emergency. When faced with a decision between earning their degrees or dropping out of school to address a crisis in their life, this fund helps students stay on the path to graduation.
“I know that Regional Campus students in particular face financial challenges,” Palmer explained. “It is difficult to be successful in school when you are struggling to pay your bills, and this fund helps students focus on what they need to focus on, instead of their finances.”
Palmer spent more than 20 years at 91ֿ Trumbull. He served as a faculty member, assistant dean and interim dean and chief administrative officer there before joining the Kent Campus in 2022.
He wants to give back to the Trumbull Campus community that means so much to him by supporting this scholarship for students in need.
"It was a way to acknowledge the time I had at 91ֿ Trumbull and the people I worked with, while also supporting the students – which is what it’s all about,” Palmer said. “I will always have a love for the Trumbull Campus. The people I have worked with – from the staff to the faculty to the president and the provost – are so committed to our mission and serving our students.”
During this season of giving, Palmer encourages others to reflect on their passions and contribute to making the 91ֿ community stronger.
“I want to encourage others to find those points of the 91ֿ mission they believe in most and find ways to give back – not just monetarily,” Palmer said. “For me, this is just one more way of being connected to the university, and it strengthens what we do.”
More information on all the Giving Tuesday featured funds can be found at www.kent.edu/givingtuesday.