He's literally raised millions of dollars for the Michigan State University College of Engineering, helping to spur on many of the college's noteworthy academic achievements and construction projects in recent years.
Stephen Bates, the senior director of development and alumni relations, is set to retire from the college after 15 years of service. He will officially retire in early March but is currently taking a pre-retirement vacation.
Engineering Dean Leo Kempel said Bates has been an important part of the college's growth and success for the last 15 years.
"We're going to miss Stephen," Kempel said. "He has been a dedicated and valued leader in our college and at our university. I have always appreciated his professionalism and desire to help advance our mission. During his tenure at MSU, he has made a positive difference on behalf of our faculty, staff and students. He taught me many important and useful aspects of philanthropy and made me a better dean."
During his time at MSU, Bates expanded the College of Engineering development and alumni relations team, raised $114 million during the MSU capital campaign that ended in 2018, and helped secure funding for 22 new endowed faculty positions and 46 endowed scholarships and fellowships. Additionally, he led efforts to raise $13 million for the college's fundraising priorities in the past year alone.
Bates said he has always been impressed with the college's alumni and their deep commitment to ensuring a bright future for Spartan Engineers. Examples of endowed faculty positions and scholarships during his leadership tenure include:
- Portions of a $17 million gift from three-time graduate Martin Vanderploeg that will establish one endowed faculty chair, two endowed professorships and an expendable research fund. Read more here.
- The Koza Chair in Genetic Programming, currently held by Wolfgang Banzhaf, professor of computer science and engineering, was among the largest gifts ever received by the college. Donor John Koza's historic gift is $12.7 million.
- A $7.3 million donation came from a Spartan Engineer who as a first-generation student at the college desperately needed a scholarship to complete his bachelor's degree in the 1960s. The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, "paid it forward" with cash and estate gifts to create an endowed scholarship for students.
- $2.5 million to endow the Leinweber Software Scholars to support undergraduate scholarships in computer science and engineering in underserved areas in Michigan, especially rural counties.
- A $2 million cash gift from William (Bill) J. Hargreaves established the Martin C. Hawley Endowed Chair in Chemical Engineering at MSU. Hargreaves is a retired Dow Corning executive and a 1946 chemical engineering graduate.
- A $2 million cash gift created the David L. and Denise M. Lamp Endowed Chair in Chemical Engineering, currently held by John Dorgan. David Lamp ('80, chemical engineering) has also funded an endowed scholarship and an endowed fellowship for undergraduate and graduate students in chemical engineering.
- Thomas Wielenga ('78, mechanical engineering) funded the Wielenga Professorship in Creative Engineering with a $1 million gift.
Prior to joining MSU, Bates held positions at the University of Michigan including working on behalf of the University Musical Society, the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, and the School of Education. He has also served as an associate vice president of the Eastern Michigan University Foundation and on the boards of local arts and social service organizations.
Bates said he is looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Mary, and their dog, Henry, volunteering at his church and the Ann Arbor botanical gardens, and visiting with family and friends.
"It's been a privilege to represent the college and get to know so many interesting and generous alumni," Bates said. "Listening to alums tell their story has been wonderful - from engineering innovations implemented under fire during D-Day, to quieter but still revolutionary new computer products to watching a company grow from a simple idea with four employees into a national brand name - it's been an exciting journey.
"And I've had the best possible companions on that journey with the team in the office and the incredible leadership from Satish Udpa and Leo Kempel. As deans, they provided the vision, focus, energy, and personal affability that allowed our fundraising efforts to be so successful," he added.