Loyola receives $12 million gift to establish Bloomfield Hall and create scholarship opportunities for first-gen students
麻豆官网首页入口 has received a milestone $12 million commitment鈥攖he largest individual gift in the University鈥檚 history鈥攆rom Bill and Susan S. Bloomfield, MBA 鈥�94. The gift will support the expansion of Donnelly Science Center and establish the Bloomfield First-Generation Scholarship. The addition to Donnelly Science Center will be named Bloomfield Hall in recognition of their support.
Loyola broke ground on the 18,200-square-foot addition to Donnelly Science Center in the summer of 2024. Bloomfield Hall, which opened for classes at the start of the Spring 2026 semester, adds research labs, teaching labs, and student lounge and study space to the building.
The Bloomfield First-Generation Scholarship will provide support to students who are the first in their families to attend college.
鈥淲e are deeply moved by Susan and Bill鈥檚 historic commitment to Loyola University Maryland. Their $12 million gift helps to position the University as a leader in STEM disciplines and in advancing student success,鈥� said Terrence M. Sawyer, J.D., president of Loyola. 鈥淲e are honored and thrilled to celebrate the largest gift in Loyola's history鈥攁nd to realize the impact it will have on generations of students. On behalf of all those who will benefit from Bill and Susan鈥檚 transformational support, I want to thank them for their belief in the power of a Loyola education.鈥�
鈥淪usan and Bill have a long history of generous philanthropy and leadership rooted in their deep commitment to expanding access to education. They are passionate about addressing educational inequalities鈥攁nd they want to bring about meaningful change,鈥� said Brian M. Oakes, 鈥�99, MBA 鈥�10, vice president for advancement. 鈥淭his is an incredible time 麻豆官网首页入口 with new programs and new offerings, and our alumni are responding to that in extremely positive ways. The significance of this historic gift lies not only in its power to elevate academic excellence 麻豆官网首页入口, but also in its capacity to inspire others to follow in their footsteps. We are extraordinarily grateful to Susan and Bill for their generosity, vision, and leadership as we work together to position Loyola as a preeminent university for student success.鈥�
Gratitude, Pride, and Confidence
Susan Bloomfield is the former general manager of Neutrogena Corp. She earned her
MBA from Loyola鈥檚 Sellinger School of Business and Management in 1994, and credits much of her professional and personal success to her Loyola
education.
Since earning her Loyola degree, Bloomfield has remained actively involved with the University and has served on the Board of Trustees since 2022. Her own Loyola experience inspired her and Bill鈥檚 decision to make the largest gift in the University鈥檚 history.
鈥淥ur gift stems from gratitude, pride, and confidence,鈥� Bloomfield said. 鈥淚 am grateful because I would not have been nearly as successful or impactful in my career without my Loyola education. I am extremely proud of my Loyola education and proud of Loyola鈥檚 success in preparing students for the challenges of tomorrow鈥檚 world.鈥�
Bloomfield notes that her confidence in the University鈥檚 trajectory and momentum, when combined with her gratitude and pride, cemented her and Bill鈥檚 desire to make this gift.
鈥淚 am quite confident in the direction that the University is headed and the strategic decisions that have been made to ensure a robust future,鈥� she added. 鈥淚 am extraordinarily impressed with the results th麻豆官网首页入口 is able to achieve with the success of its students.鈥�
Nearly 99% of Loyola graduates are employed or continuing education soon after graduation.
Advancing Health and STEM 麻豆官网首页入口
The addition of Bloomfield Hall signals sustained growth in the sciences 麻豆官网首页入口鈥攄emonstrated by the introduction of new programs like the Bachelor of Science in Nursing鈥攁nd complements the University鈥檚 current STEM facilities in Knott Hall and the renovated Donnelly Science Center.
鈥淲e are so grateful to Susan and Bill for their incredible generosity and for the great care and consideration with which they have approached this commitment,鈥� said Cheryl Moore-Thomas, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president. 鈥淪upporting first-generation students while also growing STEM and health elevates the thriving academic environment 麻豆官网首页入口 and demonstrates their profound commitment to educational equality.鈥�
鈥淭he opening of Bloomfield Hall creates a unified environment for learning and STEM discovery, as this gift sets a higher standard for science education at our University. We will see stronger programs, stronger facilities, and stronger outcomes for students,鈥� said Bahram Roughani, Ph.D., associate dean for natural and applied sciences. 鈥淭he investment expands STEM and health programs and increases opportunities for student research and faculty scholarship. The support strengthens Loyola鈥檚 ability to meet the needs of students, partners, and stakeholders, and reinforces the value of Loyola鈥檚 liberal arts education in the 21st-century economy.鈥�
Changing the World Through Education
For Bloomfield, her inspiration to support first-generation students is a personal one, driven by her own experience as a first-generation college graduate.
鈥淚 know firsthand that there are unique challenges that face first-generation students who don鈥檛 have a family experience to lean on,鈥� said Bloomfield. 鈥淲e know that education changes lives generationally. It鈥檚 been said that education is the great equalizer. I want to create more access and help fulfill prospective students' dreams of getting not just any education, but a quality education. I also believe th麻豆官网首页入口 is uniquely equipped to support first-gen students because of its values and relentless focus on student success, which is supported by my own experience.鈥�
First-generation students make up a significant portion of Loyola鈥檚 student body, including 21% of the Class of 2029 and 22% of the Class of 2028. The Class of 2027 features the highest percentage of first-generation students on record 麻豆官网首页入口 with 26%.
Bloomfield earned a Bachelor of Science in International Business and Marketing from The Ohio State University. Since her retirement from Neutrogena, she has served on several corporate and non-profit boards focused on public education and eliminating educational inequality. Her husband, Bill, is a retired business owner and entrepreneur who is also a community leader and philanthropist.
The Bloomfields鈥� commitment builds upon recent momentum 麻豆官网首页入口, which has now announced the first three eight-figure gifts in the University鈥檚 history within the last two months. Loyola announced the University鈥檚 first eight-figure gift, a $10 million commitment from Patricia and John R. Cochran III, 鈥�73, on Dec. 9, 2025, followed by another $10 million commitment from Ellen and Ed Hanway, 鈥�74, on Dec. 15, 2025. This support is contributing to the implementation of the University鈥檚 strategic plan, Together We Rise: 麻豆官网首页入口鈥檚 Strategic Plan for 2030, which calls for greater investment in health sciences and STEM fields.