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Mabee Foundation Gift of $1 Million is Second-Largest Endowment at MNU

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Carol Best

MNU announced today that it received a $1 million gift from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation to fund a scholarship endowment. The gift is part of the Mabee Foundation’s 75th anniversary celebration. The endowment will provide funding to help transform the lives of students seeking an education as well as those they serve in their future careers. It is the second-largest endowment gift in MNU’s 57-year history.

MNU President David J. Spittal expressed his gratitude for the generous gift and the trust it embodies.

“We are humbled and honored to receive this particularly significant gift that goes directly to assist students,” Spittal said. “The Mabee Foundation is already a big part of every MNU student’s life thanks to its generous funding of multiple building projects throughout our history. With this gift, the Mabee Foundation continues its indelible mark on the MNU community. We are grateful for their support of the university’s mission.”

Spittal says the Mabee Foundation has been an essential partner in the successful expansion of MNU’s campus by providing over $6 million in capital project funding through seven challenge grants. The latest capital gift was $2 million toward MNU’s Copeland Athletic Complex which begins construction in September. This scholarship endowment brings the total gifts to MNU from the Mabee Foundation to over $7 million.

Scholarship funding from the Mabee Endowed Scholarship will be available in the 2024-2025 academic year. Recipients must demonstrate the characteristics associated with John and Lottie Mabee, such as strong work ethic, volunteerism, generosity, integrity, honesty, humility, and charity, as determined by the Selection Committee. Students must also be residents of Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, or Arkansas.

Feb
19
PGS Education Virtual Information Meeting
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5:45 pm

7:00 pm
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19
MNU Theatre | Theatre Cabaret
Bell Cultural Events Center - Mabee Performing Arts Hall
7:30 pm

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Performing Arts Preview
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MNU Improv 2/28
Bell Cultural Events Center - Sunderland Black Box Theatre
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Dr. Abby Hodges

Vice President for Academic Affairs

PhD; Organic Chemistry, Yale University 
MS; Organic Chemistry, Yale University 
BS; Chemistry, Denison University

Dr. Hodges began her career in higher education at Azusa Pacific University as a chemistry professor from 2008 to 2014. She then moved to MNU where she taught and in 2018 was appointed Chair of the Department of Natural, Health, and Mathematical Sciences. From 2022-2023, before accepting the Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Hodges was the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Hodges’ career research has focused on protein folding and protein engineering, and she has mentored over twenty students in these research projects. She has also furthered the MNU first-year experience program and chaired the General Education committee for five years. Dr. Hodges was recognized as the MNU Faculty of the Year in 2021.

Dr. Hodges lives in Olathe with her husband Ryan and two boys.