PROVIDENCE – Providence College has received a $2 million gift from an alumnus and CEO of a global telecommunication company to help fund the construction of a professional development center on campus.
PC said Monday that Jim Chirico, president and CEO of Avaya Inc., a global telecommunications and technology company with 8,000 employees in 183 countries, and his wife, Bridget, earmarked the money for the establishment of the Center for Career Education and Professional Development, which will offer facilities, technology and career coaching for students.
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The college said the center will be the cornerstone of the second phase of the Ruane Friar Development Center project. The first phase, dedicated last September, features a two-court practice facility for the men’s basketball team, enhancements to the Canavan Sports Medicine Center and a student-athlete café.
The new center will have a “résumé bar” where students can work with career coaches to review and refine their résumés, and an interview suite featuring six rooms equipped for telephone and video interviews, PC said. Staff and administrative offices will be located nearby so that students can have access to assistance.
“The Center for Career Education and Professional Development will provide a space for students to make important connections with recruiters, organizations, alumni networks, and others, bringing them closer to their first destination after college, whether that be employment, education, service or ministry,” Kristine C. Goodwin, vice president for student affairs, said in a news release.
In addition to the career center, the second phase of the Ruane Friar Development Center will include an expanded ’64 Hall and an enclosed concourse linking Alumni Hall, Slavin Center, and the Concannon Fitness Center.
A second $2 million gift, this one from an anonymous donor, also has been received for the project. Preparation work will begin this summer.
“There’s an incredible amount of talent entering the workforce today, and the competition for the first job out of school is fierce,” Chirico said in a statement. “It’s important for students to have the best preparation to understand what makes them attractive to an employer, how they can be successful in their search, and the criteria to look for in their first job. Bridget and I are investing in the Center for Career Education and Professional Development to prepare students to launch their careers, and to help them find careers in which they can succeed.”
According to Providence College, Chirico became president and CEO of Avaya in October 2017, as the company was exiting Chapter 11 restructuring. Chirico led Avaya through the process of going public on the New York Stock Exchange in January 2018.
“We are most grateful to Jim and Bridget for this generous gift,” said Providence College President Rev. Brian J. Shanley. “The new and enhanced Center for Career Education and Professional Development will be an important campus resource, and a fitting complement to the work our Student Affairs Division does in supporting the overall development of our students.”
William Hamilton is PBN staff writer and special projects editor. You can follow him on Twitter @waham or email him at hamilton@pbn.com.
