Opening doors to endless possibilities

Ken Lloyd ’73 is passionate about leveling the playing field so everyone has a chance to succeed. That’s why he has made a gift in his estate plan to provide future support for the College of Engineering’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives. But Ken knows that change can’t wait—which is why he was eager to make a difference for current students, too. He is a proud supporter of Leadership Academy, a the UMass Amherst Foundation summer program for students who have historically been excluded from the fields of technology and engineering.

He also contributes to the College of Engineering’s Revolutionary, Inclusive, Sustainable Engineering (RISE) Scholars Program. RISE offers students a variety of unique academic and social opportunities, including arranged meetings with faculty, current students, and alumni mentors, as well as workshops, lectures, and symposiums.

“We are grateful for Mr. Lloyd’s partnership in helping us to recruit and support talented students with enormous potential,” says Dr. Paula Rees, assistant dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the College of Engineering. “His generosity is helping to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment that promotes a sense of community and encourages the highest level of academic success.”

“The Leadership Academy taught me that every action you take moves you forward in your own career, whether it’s negotiating a position or networking and building relationships with those in your interested field.
One of my biggest takeaways is that to be a leader is to be impactful, which immediately opens our eyes to the infinite ways we can be impactful, one example being students supporting students…building this character trait is not only career-advancing but builds on who you are as a person in the most rewarding way possible.” —Leadership Academy participant
Katherine (Kat) Nilov