UC Santa Barbara has received a $3 million gift for the construction of an alumni center from The Samuel B. and Margaret C. Mosher Foundation.
The new building will be named the Mosher Alumni House in honor of the contribution from the Mosher family foundation. The Mosher Alumni House will serve as a focal point to welcome returning graduates who want to renew their association with the campus and take part in alumni activities.
It will also be a gathering place for other visitors with a comfortable "living room," public meeting facilities with outdoor terraces, galleries, and a library.
For the first time the UCSB Alumni Association will have a prominent campus presence with enhanced facilities to support expanded programming and services.
(It is now located off-campus in a university-owned building in Goleta.) The Mosher Alumni House will be located at the University Plaza entrance to the campus, at the intersection of Mesa Road, north of Campbell Hall.
"This project will be a most appropriate way to honor the memory of Maggie Mosher, as it so well reflects her interests and her love," said Edward Birch, president and CEO of the Mosher Foundation.
Margaret Mosher, who died last year, was an Honorary Alumna of UCSB and a generous benefactor.
She became involved with the campus through her late husband, Samuel, a UC Berkeley graduate and former UC Regent who founded the Signal Oil Company and was chairman of the Flying Tiger Line, Inc.
Among their many gifts was support for UCSB's University Center, the heart of student life.
"The Mosher family has been instrumental in the development of UCSB, and the Mosher Foundation's leadership gift is nothing less than extraordinary," said UCSB Chancellor Henry T. Yang. "Maggie was a dear friend who loved the campus.
She provided financial aid for countless deserving students who could not otherwise afford an education. Through numerous generous gifts and support for academic and athletic programs, she helped shape UCSB.
Naming the Alumni House after Sam and Maggie Mosher is a wonderful way to honor their legacy to the development of our campus."
A successful business executive, Margaret Mosher was president of the Samuel B. Mosher Foundation, Dos Pueblos Orchid Company, and Perry Investment Company.
She was a trustee of The UCSB Foundation and a member of the Lancaster Society, which recognizes donors whose cumulative giving to the campus exceeds $100,000.
A total of $9.5 million in private support is being sought for the Mosher Alumni House, which is expected to break ground next year, pending approvals.
To date, alumni and other donors have contributed $7 million.
UCSB alumnus Barry Berkus, a distinguished architect and a trustee of The UCSB Foundation, is designing the three-storied building with 14,000 square feet of space.
It will feature exhibits highlighting the contributions of graduates of UCSB and the Riviera campus.
Historical materials, books written by alumni, and a comprehensive collection of La Cumbre yearbooks will form the basis of the library.
"We are extremely grateful to the Mosher Foundation for this generous gift that will help create a comfortable landmark for returning alumni and serve the university and local communities," said Peter Steiner, executive director of the UCSB Alumni Association.
"In the months ahead, we will seek additional support from alumni and friends to make this vision a reality."
Currently, approximately 23,000 of UCSB's 140,000 alumni are members of the UCSB Alumni Association.
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