March 16, 2006 :: No. 166

California Sate University Trustees Wednesday approved Cal State Fullerton's proposal to rename its Science Laboratory Center Dan Black Hall, in recognition of the CSUF graduate's $4.2 million gift — the largest ever to the CSUF College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Black, who earned his bachelor's degree in physics at Cal State Fullerton in 1967, went on to become a successful entrepreneur, selling one of the companies he founded, Advanced Medical Nutrition, for more than $16 million in 1998.

His gift to the university, a combination of cash and pledges totaling $4.2 million, is in addition to the $75,000 he gives annually to support the Dan Black Program in Physics and Business, as well as student scholarships.

"I am in the phase of life that I am financially secure enough to do whatever I want to do," said Black. "I give to CSUF because the university changed my life in a major way. I tell students all the time: 'At a certain point, you've got to give back. Don't ever believe that you did it all yourself because you didn't.'"

"There is much discussion in the United States now about the importance of generating more math and science college graduates," said CSUF President Milton A. Gordon. "The Dan Black gift will greatly assist CSUF to accomplish this goal, and the renaming of the Science Laboratory Center to Dan Black Hall is a most fitting way to honor this outstanding and highly successful alumnus of our university."

"The Dan Black gift is of special importance because it is the result of one of our own alumni realizing the value of his education at Cal State Fullerton and now giving back to the university and our College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics to benefit current and future students in a major way," noted Gordon.

"This is a pivotal moment for the college as it represents the first truly major gift from an alumnus who has already shown a keen interest in making a difference in the physics program and physics students," said Steven Murray, dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. "Now, he has enlarged his impact on the college."

Black, who has established a number of successful companies over the years, is president of ProThera Inc., a nutritional supplement company based in Reno, Nev.

"The key to success is simple — hire good people who love to do what they do, treat them good, and let them do their job," Black explained. Of all his accomplishments, Black says, "the thing I am most proud of is that I have helped make a lot of people millionaires. I have lived up to my promises, and I have made a difference in people's lives."

At his alma mater, Black has been donating both his time and fortune for the benefit of students. His latest donation will be used to refurbish laboratories, purchase new equipment and provide scholarships to students.

"Since 1998, Dan Black has provided extraordinary scholarship support for physics majors," said Roger Nanes, chair and professor of physics. "His junior and senior scholarships have allowed physics majors to concentrate on their advanced course work with a reduced burden to work for outside income. Since 1999, he has provided the funds to establish the Dan Black Program in Physics and Business."

Launched the following year, the program — believed to be the only one of its kind in the nation — is designed for physics majors who want to apply their technical knowledge to launch businesses or join the management teams of technology-related companies. Students in the program complete courses in finance, management, marketing and advanced business communication. In June, the program is expected to produce its first graduates, noted Nanes. These students will earn a bachelor of science in physics with an emphasis in business.

"Dan Black has often stated that his wish is to provide opportunity to physics majors that he never had, that is, to allow them to focus on their education and to prepare them for their careers after graduation," said Nanes. "His extraordinary generosity has done much to make that a reality."

« back to News Front