UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Friends and colleagues of George Trudeau, director of the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State and associate clinical professor in the College of Arts and Architecture, have established the George Trudeau Endowment in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Center for the Performing Arts.

The endowment honors Trudeau’s 16 years of leadership and dedication to the center, college and University. The endowment was announced during a surprise presentation as part of the center’s virtual “Curtain Up” stewardship event on Monday, Aug. 24.

The endowment will support innovative outreach and engagement program activities at Penn State and throughout the region that foster understanding of what it means — and what can be done — to be diverse, equitable and inclusive. 

“We believe that nothing would mean more to George than to create a named endowment to support programs with this focus,” said Robyn Krause-Hale, director of arts advancement in the College of Arts and Architecture, noting that as of Monday, 80 donors had contributed to the endowment. 

She initiated the endowment along with Jara Dorsey-Lash, the center’s associate director of development, and community volunteers. 

“Our community will be richer from the resulting engagement programs that will continue to build upon George’s championing of this goal and the incredible work that the center has undertaken,” Krause-Hale said.

“I was surprised and incredibly honored by the creation of an endowment in my name,” said Trudeau, who is scheduled to retire at the end of the year. “The arts are uniquely positioned to open eyes, ears and minds to the world, to break down barriers real or imagined, and to bring people together. As impactful as our diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have been, there is always more to do.”

He said he was touched by the outpouring of support.

“I am grateful to so many friends and colleagues who contributed to help establish this endowment. For me, it also serves as a validation of the importance of the center’s programs. I look forward to hearing about the projects the endowment will support and the impact they will have in contributing to a more equitable, diverse and inclusive world for generations to come.”

To make a gift to the endowment, visit raise.psu.edu/Trudeau. 

Gifts to the endowment will advance “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” a focused campaign that seeks to elevate Penn State’s position as a leading public university in a world defined by rapid change and global connections. With the support of alumni and friends, “A Greater Penn State” seeks to fulfill the three key imperatives of a 21st-century public university: keeping the doors to higher education open to hardworking students regardless of financial well-being; creating transformative experiences that go beyond the classroom; and impacting the world by fueling discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. To learn more about “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” visit  greaterpennstate.psu.edu.