National University
Launching Its New Foundation
More than 600 of the San Diego region’s most giving and influential people joined together on the deck of the USS Midway Museum to celebrate the launch of the National University Foundation, a new initiative that will help traditionally underserved students get access to education to improve their lives and make important contributions to their communities. The gala also recognized the first year of Dr. Milliron’s service as president of National University.
“With the NU Foundation, we have created a mechanism that will help students transform their lives and achieve their dreams,” Dr. Mark D. Milliron, National University president & CEO shared with GB Magazine. “The vast majority of our students are non-traditional, working, and military affiliated. They face challenges more traditional students do not. The Foundation will help them overcome those challenges and reach their goals.”
In addition, the occasion honored NU’s Humanitarians of the Year, Dr. Lee Rice and his wife, Mary Rice, recognizing them for their decades-long commitment to improving lives through education, wellness, and community service.
Dr. Rice, who serves as vice chair of the NU Board of Trustees, and Mary Rice have been fixtures in the Southern California healthcare sector since arriving in San Diego with the United States Navy Reserve Medical Corps in 1973. Dr. Rice’s groundbreaking work in preventive medicine began during his clinical rotations with both exercise physiology at UCSD and the San Diego Chargers. At the same time, he and Mary Rice dedicated thousands of hours to their community through sports medicine, serving on various boards and committees, and many other volunteer activities.
“Dr. Lee and Mary Rice embody the spirit of dedication and service that we celebrate at National University – and reflect the community difference makers that we serve,” Dr. Milliron added. “The scope of Dr. Rice and Mary’s impact extends far beyond their professional achievements and will be felt for decades.”
With an average age of 37, most NU students are working adults, many with children, often immigrants or first-generation college students. NU is one of the largest private Minority Serving Institutions of higher education and Hispanic Serving Institutions in the United States. Veteran founded over 50 years ago, NU has deep roots to the military. In March, Military Friendly designated NU a Gold Status Military Friendly School and a Top 10 Military Friendly Spouse School for 2024. Two-thirds of NU’s students and graduates are Black, Indigenous, and people of color with approximately half of undergraduates being active-duty military, Veterans, and their dependents. And NU is the largest conferrer of graduate degrees to minority students in the nation, with more than 50% of graduates being women. In addition, NU is the third largest conferrer of doctoral degrees overall.
“This is not a traditional university,” said Dr. Nancy Rohland-Heinrich, executive vice president at National University and the inaugural executive director of the NU Foundation. “We are out to make a difference. We have created a different kind of university. Our students face greater challenges, but they also exhibit amazing resilience. And the Foundation is here to help them succeed.”
NU serves 50,000 degree-seeking students and 80,000 workforce and professional development students every year. Since its founding in San Diego in 1971, 240,000 students have graduated from NU, many of whom have gone on to serve in helping industries such as business, education, health care, cybersecurity, and law and criminal justice.
National University will host next year’s Foundation Gala on Friday, September 12, 2025, on the USS Midway. Visit nu.edu/foundation for more information.
