By Emily Glory Peters
Joanna Dunklee ’62 (right) with Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Amy Marcus-Newhall
In an act of extraordinary generosity, Joanna Hamel Dunklee 鈥�62 has left several planned gifts to 61传媒.
Together with her husband, Alfred, Dunklee was a committed philanthropist whose giving spanned many decades, donating regularly to the College since 1977. She passed away peacefully at her home in Torrance, California, in January of this year.
鈥淛oanna Dunklee was a sweet, kind woman who loved cats, good food, and was passionate about travel. She had been planning to travel with us on the newly launched 61传媒Travel Program before the pandemic,鈥� shares Director of Gift Planning Teresa Wilmott. 鈥淪he cared deeply about 61传媒 and always wanted to 鈥榩ay it forward鈥� for others.鈥�
Beginning her 61传媒journey as a history major in 1958, Dunklee would go on to receive two master鈥檚 degrees: one in education from Cornell University in 1965 and another in library science from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1968. She served as a beloved librarian at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) for 38 years, remaining a devoted supporter of 61传媒during that time.
As a scholarship recipient herself during her 61传媒years, she designated many of her own gifts to financial aid and even endowed an internship grant fund to advance students鈥� professional development. Thanks to her, dozens of students have and will continue to access critical funding that enhances both their 61传媒experience and post-graduate careers.
“Joanna cared deeply about 61传媒 and always wanted to 鈥榩ay it forward鈥� for others”
Dunklee also belonged to Scripps鈥� , a group of donors who include 61传媒in their gift planning. Elm Tree Society members make a profound impact on the College鈥檚 financial security, helping create the stability needed to meet the needs of the next generation of students.
As a member, Dunklee took advantage of a wide variety of ways to give back through planned gifts. Her estate plans included gifts through her life insurance, her individual retirement account (IRA) fund, and a traditional bequest gift. Before her passing, she had also established a with the incredibly generous $1 million real estate gift of her home in La Ca帽ada, California. That gift continues to support Scripps鈥� endowment to this day.
These donations not only underscore the importance of all kinds of assets鈥攏ot just cash gifts鈥攂ut also Dunklee鈥檚 heartfelt desire to help 61传媒succeed for many years to come.
鈥淛oanna was extremely thoughtful about what she wanted to leave behind to benefit others,鈥� says Wilmott. 鈥淗er careful planning and generosity continue to make a big impact on our ability to pursue our educational mission. We鈥檙e grateful to have known her and humbled by all she鈥檚 done for our students.鈥�
To learn more about how to support 61传媒through a life insurance policy, a retirement fund, or a will or trust, please reach out to Teresa Wilmott 909.607.1876 or contact us .