Peter and Nancy Strong P’18 have supported Southwestern since the day their son, David Strong ’18, arrived on campus. As past members of the Parent Leadership Council, they supported a variety of University priorities, and as current members of the Board of Visitors, they advise the president and other administrators on a range of issues.

In 2022, the couple established the Strong Family High-Impact Experience Endowed Fund to provide funding for research, internship, and study abroad opportunities. Most recently, the Strongs supported a faculty-student research project led by Assistant Professor of Instruction in Kinesiology Vanessa Mikan.

Jay Hannath ’23, Taylor Dean ’25, Madison Deitch ’25, and Landry Gilpin ’23 designed a harness-assisted treadmill apparatus and training program for 25-year old Connor with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy that not only increased his strength and flexibility, but also enhanced his level of ability and comfort when engaging in daily living activities.

“The University has been very open to allowing us to choose what we want to support, and this was the icing on the cake for us,” Peter Strong says. “We were so happy to be able to support him and his program.”

The Strongs appreciate the personalized education Southwestern provides. They note that high-impact experiences in particular play an important role in preparing students for future success.

“Creating the fund was our way to keep supporting these experiences long after our involvement,” says Nancy Strong. “They will continue even without us being there and without our input.”