Ursinus College in Collegeville received one of its largest pledges ever from a 1962 graduate, writes Ryan Mulligan for the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Arlene Andrews McLean promised $4 million to her alma mater to be realized at the time of her passing.
McLean is a former statistician and researcher for Merck and later held leadership roles at Centocor, a biotech farm acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 1999. She also contributed to the development of vaccines for mumps, measles, pneumococcal pneumonia, and hepatitis B. She also holds advanced degrees from Villanova and Jefferson Universities.
The pledge will support student research and upgrade lab facilities at the liberal arts college. Ursinus will name chemistry floor in Pfahler Hall after McLean this spring.
“By making a gift to upgrade equipment and the sciences more broadly, students will be better prepared for their continued education and future careers,” McLean said.
McLean’s generosity extends beyond the pledge. In 2022, she committed $3 million to establish the Andrews Family Fellows Program. The program supports students in math, physics, or chemistry and alleviates student dept. In October, she advanced $1.2 million of that gift.
Ursinus College received an $11 million donation, its largest ever, in 2020 from graduates Joan and Will Abele.
Read more about Arlene Andrews McLean’s donation to Ursinus College in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on MONTCO Today in January 2025.
