Clarke Celebrates $5 Million Gift

Clarke University has graciously received a $5 million gift from alumna Honmai (Lam) ’58 and her husband, Joseph Goodman. With these funds, Clarke has eliminated its entire long-term debt.

Honmai said her philanthropy was inspired by the life-changing education she received at Clarke, including learning from many Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

After graduating in 1958 with a degree in dietetics, Honmai was accepted into a highly competitive dietetic internship at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California. After completing the program, she remained at the hospital as a therapeutic dietitian. During this time she met her husband, Joseph, who later became chair of the electrical engineering department and a senior associate dean in the School of Engineering at Stanford University before retiring in 2000. He later co-founded ONI Systems, a communications networking company.

“The experiences I had at Clarke were wonderful. The education I received and the people who mentored me shaped my time at Clarke and my future,” Honmai said. “To show my gratitude, I feel it is important to support my alma mater. I hope this gift will inspire others to give and help shape the student experience today.”

“In our conversations, Honmai has credited her education for changing the trajectory of her life. With this gift, she is truly doing the same for hundreds of Clarke students,” said Acting President, Yvonne Zimmerman. “We are incredibly grateful for the Goodmans and their transformational support of Clarke University.”

In honor of their generous gift, the complex housing the Nicholas J. Schrup Library, Lingen Technology Commons, and Academic Support Center will be named the Goodman Center. This is a central location on campus that serves student and faculty research as well as many student life and alumni activities.

“This generous gift is another fantastic representation of Honmai’s strong connection to Clarke spanning more than 70 years,” said President Emerita Catherine Dunn, BVM. “The Goodman’s longstanding generosity has profoundly impacted generations of Clarke students, and we are honored to see their tradition of support continue to flourish.”

To learn more about Clarke and how you can show your support, visit clarke.edu. You may also contact Institutional Advancement at (563)588-6405 or development@clarke.edu.