---
title: Alumnus Pledges $1M to College of Education
date: 2025-12-12T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/alumnus-pledges-1m-to-college-of-education"
section: Articles
---
# Alumnus Pledges $1M to College of Education

*December 12, 2025* — by [Emily Schuster](/author/emily-schuster)


> Psychologist’s Gift Will Help Expand Benjamin Building, Meet Pressing Need for Special Education Teachers

*Benjamin Building 09032025 DS 8760 1920x1080 — A gift from an alumnus will support the Benjamin Building’s expansion, with new gathering spaces and state-of-the-art classrooms, labs and technology; a second part of the gift will fund scholarships for special education teachers. (Photo by Dylan Singleton)*

A University of Maryland alumnus has committed $1 million to support the expansion and renovation of the College of Education’s Benjamin Building and to provide scholarships for future special education teachers.

Elliott B. Jaffa ’65, A.G.S. ’68, Ed.D. ’73 made a $750,000 bequest to the [Education Building Fund](https://giving.umd.edu/campaigns/bespoke?kwodcpreselect=KDC-ED20931&kwodcfilter=KDC-ED20931) and will give $250,000 to support the Dr. Elliott B. Jaffa Endowed Scholarship in Special Education, which he [established](https://education.umd.edu/news/12-06-22-alums-gift-provide-scholarships-students-special-education-teacher-prep-program) with a $133,000 gift in 2021. These funds will support merit-based scholarships for undergraduate students in UMD’s special education teacher preparation program who have shown leadership in the field.

“We are deeply grateful to Dr. Jaffa for his generous support of our building renovation and future special education teachers,” said Dean Kimberly Griffin. “Redesigned spaces will allow us to demonstrate teaching innovations, pursue bold research and build stronger relationships across the college to address the most pressing challenges facing education. The scholarships are critical to supporting the next generation of special education teachers.”


*Kimberly Griffin and Elliott B. Jaffa — Dean Kimberly Griffin and Elliott B. Jaffa ’65, A.G.S. ’68, Ed.D. ’73*




**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)


**Tags:** [Alumni](https://today.umd.edu/topic/alumni), [Philanthropy](https://today.umd.edu/topic/philanthropy), [Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education](https://today.umd.edu/topic/counseling-higher-education-and-special-education), [Psychology](https://today.umd.edu/topic/psychology)


**Units:** [College of Education](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-education), [College of Behavioral and Social Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-behavioral-and-social-sciences)