A Critical Time for Giving
By Judy Gelman Myers
Bruce Bongarten had a mission when he served as provost and senior vice president
for Academic Affairs at ESF: creating a culture where people felt valued, a space
where they were given opportunities to grow and were rewarded for their achievements.
For Bongarten, that applied to educators and students alike.
He built that culture by recruiting strong research faculty and staff, offering them financial and moral support, as well as opportunities for interdisciplinary research and collaborations. Before he was provost, Bongarten had served as professor and researcher at the University of Georgia and ESF, teaching forest genetics.
In his view, being a small research institution makes ESF unique for everyone. “There’s an intimacy at ESF that you donʼt find in most other research institutions,” said Bongarten, who observed that the school’s modest size engenders a feeling of responsibility. Faculty see students on a regular basis and are very committed to their growth, and the students know each other well. “It’s hard to be anonymous at this school, and I think that just brings people together,” said Bongarten.
In addition to provost and professor, Bongarten is an ESF alum. He’s a longtime member of the 1911 Society, which recognizes alumni and friends whose giving demonstrates exceptional commitment to ESF’s mission. This year, the society reached a historic milestone of 100 members, whose support helped the Foundation raise a total of $6 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Bongarten’s giving is inspired in part by the culture he nurtured at ESF. For him, the value of an ESF education goes beyond research- or work-related skills — it helps graduates in their personal lives by teaching them to think. Though they may not use the facts and figures they studied in school, the information runs in the background, keeping them curious and moving forward — the type of citizens a healthy society needs. Said Bongarten, “An ESF education is an extremely good value, and I personally feel a strong sense of commitment to returning the favor. Some of that I did in my administrative role, but thereʼs always an opportunity to do more.”
ESF is currently facing a structural deficit and is working through plans to balance the budget. Bongarten believes that giving is critical at this time; without donor support, the full mission of the institution is at risk, he says. His message to potential donors: “If you care about the institution in its current mission, it needs your support.”
