Stevenson University Announces Naming Gift for New Performing Arts Center
Stevenson University is pleased to announce a major gift from the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Charitable Foundation. The gift provides significant support for the construction of the Stevenson’s new Performing Arts Center. In honor of their generosity, Stevenson will name the new facility the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Family Performing Arts Center.
“We are extraordinarily grateful to Sandy and Malcolm for their generosity and steadfast support,” said Elliot Hirshman, President of Stevenson University. “Through their support of the Sandra R. Berman School of Nursing and Health Professions and, now, the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Family Performing Arts Center, the Bermans have forever changed the trajectory and future of Stevenson University. On behalf of every member of the Stevenson community, I thank the Bermans for their philanthropic support and extraordinary generosity.”
Construction of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Family Performing Arts Center is planned to start in 2024. The Center will be located adjacent to Stevenson’s new Philip A. Zaffere Library, and it will join the Manning Academic Center and the School of Design, Arts, and Communication as part of the university’s North campus academic hub.
Once complete, the Center will serve Stevenson’s Theatre and Media Performance program students, providing a new venue for stage productions. In addition, the Center will have performance and rehearsal space for music and choral, dance, fashion, and other fine arts events and activities. The Center will include a black box theater, music performance stage, the Bozzuto Family Box Office, scene shop, and support spaces.
“It is our sincere pleasure to support this very important project at Stevenson University,” the Bermans said. “Performing arts enrich everyone’s lives, and we are very excited that Stevenson has embarked on constructing a modern and top-tier facility which will not only serve its students, but also our community. The Berman Family believes strongly in Stevenson’s mission to provide career-focused higher education while also providing exceptional experiences that inspire and raise the students’ aspirations for a lifetime of learning and success. The new Sandra and Malcolm Berman Family Performing Arts Center will certainly advance Stevenson’s students toward this very important goal.”
Sandra and Malcolm Berman are active philanthropists in communities throughout Maryland and have a long history with Stevenson. Since 2013, Sandra has served on the Stevenson University Board of Trustees. The Bermans previously provided the naming gift for Stevenson’s Sandra R. Berman School of Nursing and Health Professions. Their other past gifts have supported Stevenson’s nursing labs and endowed scholarships for nursing students with financial need.
Learn more and view conceptual renderings of Stevenson’s Performing Arts Center Project.