Education And Philanthropy News

Phil and Penny Knight Commit $1 Billion to Launch University of Oregon Engineering School

Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife Penny have donated $1 billion to the University of Oregon, marking the largest gift ever made to a comprehensive public university. The funds will establish a new engineering school in Eugene, focusing on bioengineering and high-demand disciplines to accelerate the translation of research into commercial products. This donation brings the Knight family’s total known giving to the university to over $2 billion, following previous $500 million commitments in 2016 and 2021 that created the Knight Campus. University President Karl Scholz described the gift as a significant endorsement of higher education during a period of financial uncertainty for public institutions. The new school will be located at the existing Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, aiming to attract faculty and researchers while addressing critical workforce needs in science and technology.