Largest Gift in Drexel's History Establishes Nick Howley College of Engineering and Computing

Dear Members of the Drexel Community,

I often speak of education as a force that transforms lives, and today we are reminded how that transformation can come full circle. Those who have benefited from educational opportunity are often inspired to create pathways for the success of others. While philanthropy of this kind is always meaningful, it is especially powerful when a distinguished alumnus returns to expand those possibilities for future generations of students.

An Extraordinary Moment for Drexel

Today is an extraordinary moment in Drexel’s history. Not only are we celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2026 at our University-wide Commencement ceremony, we also have the privilege of announcing an unprecedented $112.6 million gift to Drexel from The Howley Foundation, founded by alumnus W. Nicholas “Nick” Howley and his wife, Lorie.  

This landmark commitment is the largest in Drexel’s history and one of the largest pledges ever made to a Philadelphia university. It reflects the Howley family’s belief in the potential of our students to change the world.

More than $76 million of this commitment will provide dedicated support for our students, through scholarships, professional education opportunities and expanded access to Drexel’s experiential education model for future generations of Dragons. In addition, more than $36 million will support the creation of new spaces for our students to learn, collaborate and make discoveries throughout their academic journey.

This investment is a powerful affirmation of Drexel’s strength, quality and leadership in fields where innovation and impact are deeply intertwined. As an R1 research institution, Drexel is advancing cutting-edge work across artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced materials, health technology, cybersecurity, sustainability and many other areas, driving discoveries that address real-world challenges and shape the future. This gift will expand opportunities for our students to engage directly with this culture of innovation, through state-of-the-art immersive learning environments and enhanced infrastructure that supports innovation at scale.

The transformative commitment will:

• Advance experiential learning: The Howley Family Immersive Learning Center for the College of Engineering and Computing, a reimagined space at 3101 Market Street, will bring together undergraduate engineering and computing teaching labs, collaborative classroom environments, a robotics facility, flight simulator and jet engine labs, as well as wet labs for chemical engineering, materials science and cell and gene therapy education. The Center will provide students with unprecedented opportunities to connect theory with hands-on practice while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in aerospace, robotics and advanced manufacturing.
• Power a culture of creativity and innovation: The former Firestone building at 32nd and Market Streets will be transformed into the Walter N. Howley Jr. Innovation Garage, named in honor of Nick’s father, and will serve as a dynamic hub for student innovation, collaboration and experiential learning. The facility will include dedicated bays for engineering and computing student organizations, flexible maker and project spaces open to all Drexel students and gathering areas designed to encourage creativity and teamwork across disciplines.
• Open doors of opportunity for generations: The creation of the Howley College Scholars program, and the increased support for the Howley Finance Academy in perpetuity, will ensure that future generations of talented students from designated schools in Philadelphia and Cleveland have access to a Drexel education, regardless of their financial circumstances. We anticipate that at least half of the scholars selected each year will pursue their studies at the College of Engineering and Computing.
• Elevate Drexel’s national leadership in engineering and computing: The establishment of an endowment for the College of Engineering and Computing will help the College strengthen its national reputation and attract exceptionally talented students and faculty by supporting the College’s future capital projects, as well as providing additional matching funds for scholarship endowment growth to further amplify the College’s long-term impact and ensure sustained access for generations of Drexel students.

In recognition of this historic investment and the extraordinary opportunities it will create for our students, faculty and the University community, I am proud to announce that Drexel’s newest college — created through Academic Transformation by uniting the former College of Engineering, College of Computing & Informatics and School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems — will be named the Nick Howley College of Engineering and Computing.

Multigenerational Legacy of Impact

This generous gift reflects the Howley family’s deep and enduring connection to the University. Their daughter, Meg Howley, executive director of the foundation’s Philadelphia-area operations, is also a 2010 Drexel graduate, continuing a Drexel legacy that spans generations, including Nick’s father, Walter N. Howley Jr.

Nick Howley, a 1975 Drexel graduate and member of the University’s Board of Trustees, is the founder of the Cleveland-based TransDigm Group Inc., one of the world’s leading aerospace companies. He also served as TransDigm’s CEO or executive chairman for more than 20 years. Nick is also the co-founder and chair of Perimeter Solutions, a leading provider of industrial products and services, including firefighting products, lubricant additives, electronic components and machinery for the medical device industry. Following his graduation from Drexel, Nick earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. Lorie earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Cornell University and spent 15 years working in the education department at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square. Together, they established The Howley Foundation in 2003 to expand educational opportunities for students in Cleveland and Philadelphia.

The Howleys’ commitment to Drexel has already been instrumental in shaping the lives of students. Three years ago, the Foundation extended its Howley College Scholars program to Drexel, creating opportunities for graduates of West Catholic Preparatory High School to pursue a Drexel education. And later expanded the initiative to provide support for additional students from several Philadelphia-area high schools. Nick also facilitated scholarship support for Drexel students through the Doug Peacock Scholarship, a fund supported by TransDigm and named in tribute to Howley’s late TransDigm co-founder. In 2025, thanks to the generosity of The Howley Foundation, the LeBow College of Business launched the Howley Finance Academy, a selective program designed to prepare LeBow undergraduate students for careers at top firms in private equity, investment banking and private markets.

We are profoundly grateful to Nick, Lorie and Meg for their extraordinary generosity, their enduring belief in Drexel and their commitment to ensuring that future generations of Dragons have the opportunity to learn and lead. Their gift is a bold vote of confidence for Drexel’s future and catalyst for what comes next.

Sincerely,

Antonio Merlo, PhD
President