At Doane University, it’s more than just a campus—it’s a community that’s always looking ahead. And now, that forward-thinking spirit is taking shape in the form of Our Time to Lead, a bold $100 million campaign to reimagine the Doane experience for generations of students to come.
The campaign launched publicly this spring, and its mission is ambitious: invest in every aspect of life at Doane—from new facilities and innovative academic programs to faculty development, student support, and cutting-edge technology.
“As we are setting Doane up for the next 150 years, there are areas that we need to grow and improve if we are going to provide the best student experience that we can,” said Doane President Roger Hughes. “The Our Time to Lead campaign is crucial to that.”
And the Doane community is already stepping up. Thanks to the incredible generosity of alumni and friends, $82 million has already been raised toward the goal.
One of the most visible signs of progress is the new Korff Performing Arts Center, now under construction. This vibrant new space will expand current facilities for vocal and instrumental music and add a new theater, creating more opportunities for students in the arts.
“Earlier this semester, we celebrated the groundbreaking of our new Performing Arts Center, which will include expansions to our existing vocal and instrumental music spaces, as well as a new theatre,” said Marty Fye, vice president for institutional advancement. “The Korff Performing Arts Center is made possible largely through the generosity of the Glenn Korff Foundation, in honor of Glenn’s mother, Esther Farley Korff, a 1934 Doane graduate and long-time supporter of the arts.”
The arts aren’t the only area seeing big investments. Doane is also planning a new state-of-the-art interdisciplinary academic building. The space will help meet demand in fast-growing programs like engineering, business, mathematics, and data analytics.
“Doane is the only private four-year institution in Nebraska with an accredited engineering degree program,” Hughes said. “There is a high demand for engineers in Nebraska, and Doane’s program is currently at capacity. This new space will allow us to grow our engineering program as well as provide more collaborative spaces for other high-demand programs like business, computing, mathematics and data analytics.”
But Our Time to Lead is about more than buildings—it’s about people. Enhancing student experiences, improving access through
scholarships, and ensuring academic excellence are all priorities. That’s why the campaign also focuses on growing Doane’s endowment, which directly supports scholarships and financial aid for students.
These scholarships create opportunities for students who might not otherwise be able to attend Doane. They help make the mentorship, personal growth, and academic rigor that define the Doane experience available to all.
In the midst of this exciting campaign, the university is also honoring someone who helped lay the foundation for its future. Former trustee and Doane Family Association member C. Donald Brodie served on the Board of Trustees for 17 years, bringing pride and purpose to his role. Before his passing, Brodie included Doane in his estate plans—and his incredible gift, the largest in university history, helped launch Our Time to Lead.
In January 2024, Doane officially opened its newest residence hall, named in his honor: C. Donald Brodie Hall.
As Doane enters a new chapter of growth and transformation, the spirit of community, generosity, and vision remains stronger than ever. The future is bright—and it’s our time to lead.
