A Special Message from the President on Empowering and Shaping Goucher for a Bold Future

Dear Goucher Community,

For 140 years, Goucher College has been redefining what higher education can and should be. Founded as a trailblazing institution for women when access to higher education was anything but equitable, Goucher’s bold vision of inclusion and excellence continues to guide us today. That same pioneering spirit, rooted in the liberal arts, remains the cornerstone of our mission.

This has been a phenomenal year for Goucher College. Thank you for being a part of our community.

This has been a year of extraordinary momentum at Goucher. We far surpassed our $100 million goal for the historic [UNDAUNTED] campaign, raising more than $172 million, strengthening our programs, facilities, and our future. We broke ground on the new Judy C. Lewent ’70 Science Center, a state-of-the-art facility that will transform science education on campus for years to come. The inaugural cohort of students in our LAUNCH initiative—many of whom were the first in their families ever to attend college—graduated from Goucher this spring, ready to apply their knowledge in a rapidly changing world. And, our new partnership with the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) will allow us to expand global learning opportunities not only for our students but for students everywhere.

Goucher is taking bold steps to meet the challenges of today—and tomorrow.

Goucher is evolving to meet the demands of a new era, while staying true to our foundational values. Through bold initiatives like Goucher Prison Education Partnership (GPEP), our intergenerational learning collaboration with Edenwald Senior Living to create the first university retirement community in Maryland, and our growing 4+1 and 3+2 graduate degree programs with pathways to top-tier institutions like Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University, Middlebury College, and others, we are expanding access, deepening community connections, and preparing students for lives of consequence.

But higher education in America is under attack.

Across the country, higher education is under growing scrutiny and, in some cases, open attack. The very ideals that define a liberal arts education—open inquiry, civil discourse, creative exploration, and critical thinking—are being questioned and, at times, undermined. Yet, never has the need for thoughtful, principled, and well-prepared graduates been greater.

Our students and alumni are proof positive of our success.

Our alumnae and alumni stories are a testament to our mission in action. Goucher graduates are solving complex challenges in public health, education, law, science, and the arts. They serve in local and global government roles, launch innovative businesses, and advocate for justice and equity in their communities.

Now more than ever, your support for the Greater Goucher Fund is essential.

Our annual fund, the Greater Goucher Fund (GGF), sustains the very core of our mission: faculty excellence, student scholarships, academic innovation, and campus resources that shape lives. It ensures that the education you received—one that prepared you not just for a career but for a life—remains available to future generations.

We need your voice, your advocacy, and your generosity. A thriving democracy depends on informed, ethical leaders. This is what our graduates become—and what your gift makes possible.

There are so many ways to give to Goucher, whether that be gifts of stock, IRA distributions, donor-advised funds, or charitable annuities. For more information about any of these, visit our website or contact our Advancement Office directly at 410-337-6083.

Even simpler, please consider making a one-time or recurring gift today just visiting our giving page. 

This is your moment to help Goucher College write its next chapter.

As we look ahead to the next 140 years, we invite you to stand with us. Your gift—no matter the size—helps shape the future of Goucher and empowers the next generation of changemakers. Please join me and make a gift to Goucher today.

Warm regards,

Kent Devereaux
President, Goucher College