Former University President Launches Campaign to Fight Global Poverty

Ann M. Svennungsen, former president of Texas Lutheran University and resident scholar at the Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, is leading a new effort called the President’s Pledge. The goal of the initiative is to have at least 100 college and university presidents pledge 5 percent of their earnings to combat global poverty.

Rev. Svennungsen told WIAReport: “Presidents who sign the pledge decide where to commit their contributions to alleviate extreme poverty in the U.S. and around the world.”

Rev. Svennungsen promised a complete list of participants at a later date. But we do know that Lynn Pasquerella, president of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, has signed the pledge. President Pasquerella will earmark much of her donations to support the work she does in Africa to provide clean water, sustainable agriculture, and entrepreneurship opportunities.