University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee alum Randy Grippe is donating $525,000 to the UWM Foundation, and even more to other area educational institutions, in honor of his late wife, Jane Dolan, and the couple’s lifelong passion for education.
The gift creates the Jane E. Dolan Administrative Leadership Fund, which will support UWM School of Education students pursuing careers in educational leadership positions, as well as those who have a strong desire to enhance their teaching skills. It awards a fellowship that covers tuition for UWM School of Education master’s degree students, with a focus on candidates who are elementary school teachers in the Wauwatosa School District.
“We’re so honored to be trusted with a gift that embodies such meaning and promise,” said Tina Freiburger, dean of UWM’s College of Community Engagement & Professions. “This generous investment will pay dividends across the educational landscape through the exponential impact of each and every student it benefits.”
Grippe has also donated $50,000 to the Wauwatosa School District and $40,000 annually for five years to the St. Francis Children’s Center to benefit professional development and certification for their educators.
“The generous donation allowed our educators to learn at their own pace while building a shared foundation of essential knowledge, ensuring everyone began the year prepared,” said Brenda Jones, Wauwatosa School District JK-5 humanities coordinator.
The gifts reflect a commitment to helping students and educators overcome the challenges that many of them face and enhancing access to ongoing educational opportunities. It’s the latest link in a long legacy shared by Grippe and Dolan, who passed away in 2024.
“We both had a philosophy: Learning is a constant, with no holy grail,” Grippe said. “With that mindset, we were always working with people to become more skillful in what they did.”
Committed to education
The couple’s multifaceted love story dates back four decades. Dolan and Grippe married, attended UWM, grew a family, and through it all, remained committed to the transformative power of education.
Dolan (’89 BBA Industrial Relations) became a human resources executive as well as an instructor at area universities, including UWM’s Executive MBA program. She was an active volunteer and started a successful consulting and coaching business that taught leaders how to achieve the best results for themselves and their teams. She also served on the board of directors for the St. Francis Children’s Center, including a term as board president.
“Our team is deeply grateful to Randy for this meaningful contribution in Jane’s memory,” said Laura Felix, executive director of St. Francis Children’s Center. “Jane’s passion for education and advocacy for children lives on through this investment in our educators, which will strengthen our programs for years to come.”
Grippe (’04 BA Political Science, ’09 MS Education) built a career in the hospitality industry, and launched a successful specialty bakery and deli. Then he taught the hospitality curriculum for students at Waukesha County Technical College, where he remains a hotel and restaurant management instructor.
Grippe hopes this support nurtures talent and fosters a love of learning for generations to come, while also inspiring others to make similar gifts.
“The motivation for the donation, and in particular in Jane’s name, was to give back to the community,” Randy says. “We were both so dedicated to education.”
