ANN ARBOR—With a recent $1 million donation, the University of Michigan School of Art & Design’s effort has been boosted significantly in getting out the word about its innovative model for arts education at one of the world’s leading research universities.

The gift comes from U-M alumni Susan Smucker Wagstaff and Reid Wagstaff. Half of the donation will support the school’s communication efforts, while the balance goes to grants and scholarships for graduate students.

Matching funds from the U-M President’s Donor Challenge boost the Wagstaff’s gift by an additional $250,000, bringing the total to $1.25 million. The president’s challenge encourages gifts for graduate student and professional student financial aid by matching gifts with $1 for each $2 from a donor.

“We want to support the progress of the School of Art & Design,” said Susan Smucker Wagstaff. “The new philosophy of the school considers the central role of creativity in a range of professions and in our lives. The focus is on understanding how art and design increase students’ creative responses to problem solving, regardless of their career outcomes.”

“There is a compelling need for the School of Art & Design to be viewed as a force both on U-M campus and among its peer art-school institutions,” said Reid Wagstaff. “It’s important to reaffirm the value of an art and design school within a large, diverse university and within the broader higher education community.”

Susan Wagstaff came to Ann Arbor from her hometown of Orrville, Ohio, which is also headquarters to the J.M. Smucker Co, a market leader in fruits spreads, peanut butter, shortening oils, ice cream toppings and health and natural foods beverages. She is a descendant of the company founder and serves as an adviser in the selection of art for the company’s annual reports.

Art and design has been a continuing focus in her life.

While at the School of Art & Design, she was design chair for a Mardi Gras celebration, interned at the advertising agency Campbell Ewald, and designed the cover of U-M art department publication, “Fringe.” She had a design practice in Ann Arbor until 1969 when she moved to Arizona, where Reid Wagstaff assumed a professorship at Arizona State University.

After 14 years of teaching at Arizona State, he joined the J.M. Smucker Co. While at Smucker’s, he was a board member of the National Board of Second Harvest, the Yosemite National Institute, and the California Strawberry Commission.

He also served as chairman of the Frozen Food Institute in Washington, and chairman of the Environmental Committee of Grocery Manufacturers of America. Recently, Reid Wagstaff retired from his position at Smucker’s as vice president of government and environmental affairs and is now chair of the board of trustees of Longyear Museum in Massachusetts. He is also vice president of the Alfred Baker Fund, which provides loans to college students.

The Wagstaffs are founding members of the school’s Deans Advisory Council. They have donated to the U-M School of Art & Design’s annual fund, scholarships and publications.

Their latest gift is part of the School of Art & Design’s fundraising for the Michigan Difference campaign, which runs through December 2008.

Related Links:

• School of Art & Design