The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University has received the second-largest gift in its history, with anonymous donors pledging $10 million for student financial aid.
The donors are giving the school $1 million outright and offering $9 million through a matching challenge. If others join them and contribute $9 million toward financial aid by Dec. 31, 2025, the donors will create a $9 million endowed scholarship fund at the Friedman School.
Their gift is the largest contribution to the school since a $20 million gift in 2001 from the Friedman Family Foundation, directed by Jane Friedman, after which the school was renamed in honor of her uncle and aunt, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman.
“We are extremely grateful for this historic gift, which will support both today’s and tomorrow’s students. This funding will ensure that the Friedman School competes for the very best nutrition students who want to lead vital research, education, and action that creates a healthier world,” said Tufts President Sunil Kumar. “We hope others are inspired to participate in this exciting challenge and help make Tufts even more inclusive and accessible to a new generation of thought leaders and changemakers.”
One of that new generation is Wanqing Xu, who has been passionate about nutrition since high school. With her mother’s encouragement, she dreamed of a career using her expertise to care for others—but tuition was a burden for her family.
Today, Xu is working toward a Ph.D. in Nutrition Interventions, Communications, and Behavior Change, thanks to a generous endowed scholarship. She said following her dream would not have been possible without this support.
“Receiving this scholarship has been a proud moment and an invaluable opportunity, allowing me to fully commit to my studies in nutrition without the burden of financial concerns,” Xu said. “This support is essential, as it enables me to focus my energy on academic growth and achieving my future goals in the field, where I hope to make a meaningful impact.”
Xu hopes to work in communities to assess and help meet people’s nutritional needs, and to work with global organizations and policymakers to design and inform nutrition interventions and policies. She said she’s “incredibly grateful” for her scholarship, which has motivated her studies—and inspired her in other ways. “I hope to someday give back in the same way,” she said.
Xu’s classmate Samantha Jezak applied to Tufts with the intention of bridging the gap between nutrition and aging. Scholarships and other student financial aid have made it possible for her to explore trailblazing topics in this area. Her thesis research focuses on how macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats affect cellular senescence, a hallmark of aging. “I hope one day my research will help people live their longest, healthiest, most fulfilling life,” Jezak said.
The donors’ $10 million gifts will empower future students in the same way, according to Friedman School Dean Christina Economos.
“We are honored and thrilled to receive a gift of this magnitude,” Economos said. “This tremendous philanthropy will provide students with new avenues to Tufts graduate degrees and help to transform the Friedman School into a more competitive, accessible, and inclusive institution.”
Economos, who herself offered a matching gift for financial aid during #TuftsGivingTuesday last month, said increasing access to a Friedman School education is one of her top priorities as dean.
“Increasing access and making our academic offerings more equitable is something I truly care about,” she said. “Financial aid opens doors for talented individuals from all backgrounds to pursue a transformative education. I hope this gift inspires others to join us in creating a community of future leaders who are ready to tackle complex global food and nutrition challenges.”
