Daniel J. Riccio Jr. ’86, ’24MS—a former key leader and innovator at Apple for 26 years—has committed $50 million to support immediate and long-term initiatives to fuel innovative research, strengthen academic excellence, and expand access and opportunity for generations of UMass Amherst engineering students. It is the largest gift in campus history.
In recognition of Riccio’s generosity, the university will establish the Daniel J. Riccio Jr. College of Engineering. A naming celebration will be held later this fall.
“As a proud alum, I’ve seen UMass Amherst, including its College of Engineering, become a world-class institution over the past 20 years. While UMass has come a long way, I believe it has untapped potential and with the right level of investment and support, its best days are yet to come,” said Dan Riccio. “This said, I’m excited to make this gift and partner with UMass to take the College of Engineering to the next level and build on its mission of revolutionizing engineering and making the world a better place.”