Why Give to Antioch University New England?

A Just Cause

With each passing day it becomes progressively clearer that our schools, social agencies, corporations, and governments need visionary people in their ranks who are committed to the very same values to which Antioch University New England subscribes: ecological stewardship, social justice, and the cultivation of local as well as global perspectives. That's why at AUNE we make it our business to take well meaning people and mold them into visionary leaders who are committed to building stronger communities and a more vibrant world. In this way we are making a difference one graduate at a time.

We need your help to make the world better.

At Antioch University New England our ability to provide visionary students the tools they need to help create a fair and just world is greatly multiplied when alumni, faculty, staff and friends generously give of their financial resources. The simple act of giving will help us carry our tradition of building leaders far into the future.

Your spirit of philanthropy and belief in our mission is contagious; it will inspire others to help us continue the tradition of educating adults who are in pursuit of a better world. Join a community that is deeply and passionately engaged in social justice and make your gift to Antioch University New England today.

Your Gift Provides a Measure of Hope

Rwandan student’s dissertation will tackle his homeland’s catastrophic flooding

Nearly 7,000 miles from his home in Rwanda, Apollinaire William is pursuing a PhD in Environmental Studies at Antioch University New England to help his country cope with deadly floods. “Every year rivers in the north and west of Rwanda flood,” Apollinaire said. “There is damage to crops and houses, cattle die, and people die.”

Apollinaire studied the problem for years as a conservationist at the National University of Rwanda. There he collaborated with AUNE faculty member Beth Kaplin, whose work on tropical ecology brings her to Africa frequently. He was impressed with Beth’s characteristically Antiochian attitude that lasting solutions must be interdisciplinary and must involve the community. “I’m going to use a participatory approach to conduct my study,” Apollinaire said. “I came to realize that the community is not as stupid as we think. They have a body of knowledge we never tap into. Most of the time scientists go into the field, collect data, and publish articles. No one from the community collaborates or reads the articles, yet the community are the ones to pay the bill, the ones who suffer those disasters.”

When it came time to enter a PhD program to study watershed monitoring and management, Apollinaire’s choice was clear. “I looked at programs in Europe, and other programs in the United States,” he said. “Some are good, but none are so interdisciplinary. AUNE’s program touches on science, on economics, on environmental issues, and on the human dimension. You need to bring in different disciplines, people with different skills, in order to work together and come up with strong, robust, and durable solutions.”

As an AUNE scholarship recipient, Apollinaire is deeply aware that donors to the school are also powerful partners in finding solutions. “To those who contribute to Antioch, I say: You are making a right and wise decision,” he said.

“By donating to Antioch, you donate to the future of the world, and you will reap the benefits as well.”

Last Updated: 11/23/11