Barnard is dedicated to strengthening the resources and initiatives that empower our students to thrive, both personally and academically, and our community is united in its support of this mission. Together, we are developing amazing resources that support every aspect of the student experience.
Every student on campus has a unique identity, background, and story. Our commitment to supporting the diversity of our community is evident in our funding initiatives — the four funds featured here reflect the broad range of areas that the College, and our community, are committed to supporting.
The Herb Sloan Prize in Early American History
Historian and professor Herbert Sloan enriched the Barnard-Columbia intellectual community for over 30 years. Wishing to celebrate his contributions to our community and broader academia, Barnard College has established the Herb Sloan Prize in Early American History, an annual award that recognizes an outstanding student thesis or paper in early American history. With the generosity of our faculty, alumnae, and friends, we can build this fund into an enduring resource that honors Herb’s legacy and encourages generations of talented student historians. The Herb Sloan Prize in Early American History will be open for contributions until November 2023.
Gender-Affirming Support Fund
Understanding that students’ undergraduate years represent a period of change and self-discovery, Barnard seeks to support trans and nonbinary students as they acquire clothing to match their gender identity. Clothing and accessories allow trans and nonbinary individuals to express their gender identity outwardly and proudly. Many students, however, are unable to cover the costs associated with gender-affirming clothes. That is where the Gender-Affirming Support Fund comes in: It assists members of Barnard’s trans and nonbinary student population as they access critical necessities.
The Writing Fellows Support Fund
The Barnard Writing Fellows program is one of Barnard’s longest-standing and most renowned resources for writers. It is built on the foundational belief that knowledge production can happen outside of a classroom and is not solely dependent on a professor. Writing Fellows staff the Erica Mann Jong ’63 Writing Center and work in courses across disciplines, collaboratively helping fellow students expand and explore their writing. The Writing Fellows Support Fund fosters the continued growth, education, and development of Barnard’s exceptional young writers and provides financial support for this transformational, one-of-a-kind program.
Francine LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being Student-Athlete Space
Established in fall 2020, the Francine LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being now serves as a centralized hub for wellness-related initiatives across the Barnard campus. Construction on the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being is underway; the new facility will open to our community in early 2024. In addition to its focus on three tiers of well-being — physical, mental, and financial — the Francine LeFrak Center will prioritize the needs particular to women athletes and will include facilities that meet our scholar-athletes’ needs. Within the Student-Athlete Space — which will celebrate the close relationship between Barnard and Columbia athletics and support its ongoing growth — women athletes will have opportunities to socialize, de-stress, participate in cohort-building activities, and be inspired by the accomplishments of Barnard’s trailblazing alumnae athletes.
Contributions to these funds can be made via check or online by credit card, PayPal, or Venmo. To give online at barnard.edu/gift, select “Other Designation” in the gift designation drop-down menu and type the name of the fund in the field.
If you would like to learn more about these funds, or would like to start your own, please contact Michael Farley, Vice President, Development and Alumnae Relations, at mfarley@barnard.edu.
Award-winning music producer Ebonie Smith ’07, museum curators on objects of interest, a dance course brings students to the stage, and more!