The A. James Clark School of Engineering is proud to announce the launch of Forward: The University of Maryland Campaign for the Fearless, the most ambitious fundraising campaign in university history. This bold, multi-year effort will advance our mission to educate the next generation of engineers, drive research and innovation that improve lives, and strengthen our impact across the State of Maryland and beyond.

Forward will accelerate our mission and empower Clark School faculty, students, and staff, ensuring it remains a place where ideas become reality. It’s about our Fearless spirit, our shared commitment, and shaping a better world. Together, we will strengthen the Clark School and expand the impact of engineering for the public good.

Through Forward, we will focus on strategic priorities that empower our students, faculty, and community to achieve more than ever before:

Forward for Discovery: Fueling transformative research and solving grand challenges

Forward for Experiential Learning: Embedding hands-on, interdisciplinary learning and leading innovations that benefit society

Forward for Community: Investing in people, removing financial barriers, and recognizing excellence

Forward for Partnerships: Translating knowledge into technologies and driving economic development

Where to Give

Engineering General Scholarship Fund

A. James Clark School of Engineering Dean's Fund

Experiential Learning Fund

Terps Cement Legacy

Robert E. Toense ’76, inspired by early experiences at NIST with his father and uncle—both UMD electrical engineering graduates—pursued a distinguished career in electronics engineering at the Naval Surface Warfare Center and NIST. His work contributed to foundational technologies in wireless LANs and videoconferencing. In retirement, Toense and his wife, Diana Locke, established the Robert E. Toense Family Endowed Student Support Fund and the Robert E. Toense Current-Use ALEx Garage Student Support Fund, aiming to enhance hands-on learning for Clark School students. Their philanthropy enables undergraduates to engage in innovative projects, fostering practical engineering solutions. 

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From left to right: Vice President for University Relations Jim Harris, Robert E. Toense, and Clark School Dean Samuel Graham, Jr. Photo by Mike Morgan.

Student Stories

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I am honored that I have been chosen. I think it was a great personal achievement that has given me more motivation and positive energy each semester.

With the scholarships, I felt like I was given an extra hand. Someone had faith in me that I could do this.

As students, sometimes we hit these very deep lows, and knowing that when I hit those deep lows, I just can't give up because I have people out there that are investing in me to keep going and get through to the end.