Why I Give: Fingerman Family
Fostering a Culture of Belonging
Matthew Fingerman, MS, MBA ’14 ’15 and his father Michael Fingerman knew the best way to honor their late mom and wife was to establish a scholarship in her name. But what wasn’t immediately clear was where it would be established and who it would benefit.
Serving on GMercyU’s President’s Council, Matthew learned about the Integrated Studies program and after sharing with his father, the pair had their answer.
"A spark went off in my head and I said, ‘That's it. This is the perfect thing in mom's memory'," Michael said. "The ability to sit down with school leadership and come up with something that feels really customized to what I know Wendy would have loved and wanted was really special. I don't think there's a lot of places where you're able to do that.”
The Wendy S. Fingerman Memorial Endowed Scholarship for Integrated Studies provides recognition and financial assistance to outstanding students enrolled in the Integrated Studies Program.
My mom had just an amazing ability to connect with everybody.
-Matthew Fingerman MS, MBA '14 '15
Journey to GMercyU
Soon after graduating Drew University in 2012 with his bachelor’s, Matthew began his career at BNY Wealth as a Senior Portfolio Analyst. He quickly decided to go back to school to earn his master’s in management.
Living in Philadelphia, Matthew had a plethora of options for grad school but as he began his search, GMercyU quickly jumped out as the leader.
I know it's cliche, but you're not a student ID number here. There are people you can call, and you're going to get somebody to answer. The high level of personal touch really exceeded my expectations and gave me the confidence I needed to choose GMercyU.
-Matthew Fingerman MS, MBA '14 '15
GMercyU’s MSM program at the time was in-person at the previous Center City Philadelphia location. The cohort-based program enabled Matthew to make strong connections and friendships with his classmates and learn from each other’s lived experiences.
After earning his MSM, Matthew began taking classes at another university for his MBA but quickly transferred back to GMercyU after the launch of the University’s first MBA program.
“The professors allowed quite a bit of flexibility in analyses, papers, and projects to focus on certain industries. This allowed me not only to focus on my field of work but also provided the opportunity to work in teams and learn about other industries,” Matthew said “For instance, my cohort consisted of a Gulfstream pilot, hospital administrator, military and pharmaceutical professionals. The diversity in careers made projects very interesting.”
Once a Griffin, Always a Griffin
Matthew earned his MBA from GMercyU in 2015 and has since climbed the ranks at BNY Wealth. Over his nearly 15-year career with the company, Matthew has served in numerous roles, currently as Senior Vice President – Group Manager.
While Matthew’s career grew, he stayed connected with his two-time alma mater. It started out with being invited to campus for Alumni and networking events and soon Matthew was invited to join the President’s Council, which brings together community leaders to work alongside the President to advocate for the University's mission and forge partnerships in the community.
It was through his involvement with the President’s Council that Matthew began to get an in-depth look into how GMercyU was truly living their mission and where he was first introduced to the University’s Integrated Studies program.
This was the first time that I really saw an institution that prided itself on who was included. I think a lot of places say they do that. I don't know how many do.
-Matthew Fingerman MS, MBA '14 '15
Now through The Wendy S. Fingerman Memorial Endowed Scholarship for Integrated Studies, the Fingerman family will continue that legacy by supporting students in a community where inclusion is not just encouraged, but actively lived and celebrated.
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