Dartmouth Announces the Frank J. Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies

Dartmouth today announced that it is naming its graduate school in honor of Frank J. Guarini ’46, a former congressman, delegate to NATO, and U.S. Representative to the United Nations, who has made a historic gift in support of the College’s graduate programs.

Announced as part of the launch of Dartmouth’s $3 billion The Call to Lead campaign, Congressman Guarini’s gift—which will be supplemented with additional support from his estate—will significantly strengthen Dartmouth’s graduate programs. Specifically, the gift will be used to:

• expand graduate fellowships, to raise the scholarly output of targeted programs; 
• recruit and retain exceptionally qualified, diverse students and faculty; 
• implement best-in-class professional development; and 
• create more undergraduate research opportunities with the mentorship of outstanding graduate students as well as Dartmouth faculty.

The Dartmouth Board of Trustees created the school—now the Frank J. Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies—two years ago, making it the first new school established at Dartmouth in more than a century. Congressman Guarini’s gift in support of the graduate school is his third major commitment to Dartmouth. During the past four years, he made two sizeable gifts to endow Dartmouth’s off-campus and foreign study programs, which are housed in the Frank J. Guarini Institute for International Education. 

“Frank Guarini has led a remarkable life of service and dedication, and all of us at Dartmouth are inspired by his leadership,” said President Phil Hanlon ’77. “Frank has given selflessly to help others—from his service in World War II, when he received the Navy Commendation Medal and three Battle Stars, to seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, to his dedication to advancing international peace, exemplified by his unstinting support of our study-abroad programs. In large part because of Frank’s commitment to building bridges between cultures, more than half of our undergraduates spend at least one term abroad, one of the highest rates for foreign study among all top universities.” 

“This latest gift from Frank is a remarkable act of generosity and a historic investment in the education of future generations,” President Hanlon continued. “We are committed to providing outstanding graduate programs, among the very best in the world, and Frank shares that commitment.”

Congressman Guarini came to Dartmouth during World War II, studying first as a civilian and then as a member of the Navy’s V-12 program. He served as a navigator aboard the USS Mount McKinley in the Pacific before returning to Hanover, graduating as a civilian student.

“Dartmouth is an important part of who I am and the life I have led,” said Congressman Guarini. “Dartmouth instilled values such as helping your fellow man, being responsible for your actions, and doing as much as you can to make life better for the people around you.”

For many decades, Dartmouth operated its graduate programs under the auspices of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences. After a lengthy review and campus-wide consultation, the trustees in early 2016 moved to establish a freestanding graduate school.
 
“All of us affiliated with the Guarini School recognize that discovery comes at the intersection of many disciplines,” says Jon Kull ’88, the school’s inaugural dean. “Our scale invites collaboration among departments, which leads to the creation of new knowledge. This incredibly generous gift from Congressman Guarini deepens our collaborative commitment, inspiring us in our common task of tackling tough problems and graduating students who go on to become leaders in their fields.”

Through its support for research and scholarship, the school catalyzes intellectual discovery, preparing young scholars for lives devoted to real-world impact. In addition, it develops and nurtures interdisciplinary programs, connects scholars with a shared vision and research interests, and provides centralized services, including recruitment support, diversity programs, and career advising.

The graduate school’s structure cultivates an environment in which big ideas can develop into transformative academic programs. This allows Dartmouth to move quickly and effectively into emerging areas of intellectual impact. A recent example is the Ecology, Evolution, Ecosystems & Society program, which offers research opportunities that encompass ecology, earth sciences, geography, anthropology, economics, and engineering.

“For graduate students interested in going into business, we can develop ways for them to work with Tuck and the Dartmouth Entrepreneurial Network,” said Dean Kull. “For students who want to pursue careers in government, we can partner with the Rockefeller Center for Public Policy. We’re nimble and responsive to the needs of individual students.”

The Guarini School supports more than 1,000 graduate students, doctoral candidates, and postdoctoral scholars in 35 programs—all graduate students at Dartmouth except Tuck’s MBA students and Geisel’s MD students.

“Education is the most important word in our language, in any language,” said Congressman Guarini. “It’s how we create leaders, grow our economy, and learn about other people, which nurtures peace. Education is the key to a better world.”