Donor Spotlight: Susan Wu ’93
You don’t need to give tens of thousands of dollars to make a difference at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science. Every gift propels our educational and research endeavors to the next level. Each dollar from alumni, sponsors and friends helps with scholarships, faculty hiring, student recruitment, high-tech equipment and so many other aspects of the Watson experience. Click here to donate.
Susan Wu ’93, who majored in computer science, started giving back to Binghamton University and the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science not just through her own gifts to the Binghamton University Foundation but also encouraging others to do likewise.
When the New York Metro Advisory Board formed a few years ago, bringing together the connections and knowledge of alumni across all fields, Wu was a natural fit. Members raise funds, offer an industry perspective on education goals and curriculum, make important connections, and help Binghamton students and alumni along their career paths.
Working on the board has enriched her life as well. “You see the passion from your fellow alumni,” says Wu, who works as a director, portfolio manager and trading strategist for Bank of America Merrill Lynch. “There are many board members who put in a lot of effort to give back to the community. Seeing people do that for others inspires me to want to do more.”
Wu’s most recent gifts include funds for the Watson College Scholars Program, because she knows firsthand that having the right support at college can mean the difference between success and failure.
“I came from a family of immigrants who had nothing when we came to the United States,” she says. “The quality and affordable education offered by Watson was a huge stepping-stone for me in terms of developing my career success and, eventually, economic stability.”
She also wants to encourage the increasing number of young women who are choosing to be engineering and computer science majors: “When I was at Watson, there would be 30 people in a class but only three or four female students. The number is a lot more balanced these days, which is a wonderful development, but more can be done.”
Although she left Binghamton University nearly three decades ago, Wu is excited to maintain her ties to her alma mater and to aid Watson College as it maps out its future.
“When I first started giving back to the school through volunteering,” she says, “I was surprised to find that the positive emotional impact from the experience far outweighs the time and money I donated. Working with other volunteers and faculty members helped me to build new connections while strengthening old ones. It also helped me to become more confident about my identity.
“For those who have not been involved, please join us at an alumni event and meet others who are passionate about bettering our college and communities.”