Now We Fly

By Alexis Baum
Photos by Paige Brown

“I remember when we were planning the campaign—deciding on an ambitious goal—and when we landed on $40 million, many said we would never achieve that amount,” recalls Regis President Antoinette M. Hays, PhD, RN. “I always knew we would.”

Publicly launched in 2017, Now We Fly exceeded the $40 million mark two months ahead of schedule at the university’s Let It Shine Gala on October 23, 2019. A comprehensive campaign, Now We Fly comprised four main funding priorities: capital projects, endowed scholarship support, academic initiatives, and annual support. Prior to Now We Fly, the largest Regis campaign was $16 million in 1994, which included the building of the Fine Arts Center. At more than double that amount, the $40 million goal was ambitious, but university leadership was confident it was attainable.

“This campaign has been a game-changer for Regis,” says Board of Trustees Chair and Campaign Co-Chair John Tegan. “We really needed to prove to ourselves—and to the world—that Regis could raise these significant funds, especially amid headlines of small colleges closing their doors. It has been all about building a stronger culture of philanthropy for an institution that has been flying under the radar for years; we did that successfully and Regis is stronger than ever before.”

In 2013, the year prior to the beginning of the campaign’s “silent phase,” Regis raised $2.2 million. During the campaign, that figure nearly doubled to $4.3 million per year, on average, from 2014 to 2019.

“When I became president of Regis, I knew the university had such great, untapped potential,” says Hays. “Regis has been making a significant impact in Greater Boston and around the world for years, and Now We Fly was all about telling the Regis story—being bold not only in our efforts to raise significant funding, but bold in shining a bright light on the great work we were already doing.”

In today’s higher education climate, shining that light is more important than ever. Since Hays took the helm in 2011, Regis created two additional schools (and now has a total of four schools) and has greatly expanded its focus in nursing and health sciences at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. And in 2017, Regis took its next big strategic step when the university launched fully online degree programs, expanding its target market and geographic reach beyond the campuses in Greater Boston. This expansion translates to an overall enrollment that has increased by about 75 percent since Hays became president nine years ago.

It’s the increase in enrollment revenue coupled with campaign investments that has built Regis’ recent success and solidified its future.

“Now We Fly was a revolutionary campaign for Regis—I remember thinking ‘it’s now or never,’” says Hays as she recalls the planning stage of the campaign. “We had a strategic vision for the university, but we knew it wouldn’t come to fruition without significant funding. Our success really hinged on two things happening simultaneously—unprecedented campaign support and a significant shift in our enrollment and programs. Regis is thriving today because we were successful in achieving both of these things.”

Hays isn’t shy about noting that although Regis is certainly “flying” with the completion of the campaign, this is just the beginning.

“Regis still has so much growth potential, especially in STEM,” she says. “As Regis looks toward the future, science is, and must continue to be, at the forefront.”

Supporting People and Places

Nursing Resource Center (1)

Through a generous grant from Cummings Foundation, the Regis Nursing Resource Center in College Hall is a supportive environment for nursing students to study and collaborate.

Zebrafish Facility (2)

Regis students have been conducting research in the on-campus zebrafish facility since 2018 thanks to campaign grant support from Virginia Pyne Kaneb ’57 and others, as well as a partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital.

Maria Hall Extension (3)

The residence hall features modern, suite-style accommodations, common spaces, a fitness center, and the Lennon Dance Studio.

Grotto (4)

Thanks to the support of Eileen McCormick Langenus ’78 and Peter Langenus, trustee, and Farrah and Hans Christensen, trustee, the grotto (between the Tower and Walters Hall) was restored and is used for campus gatherings as well as quiet reflection and prayer.

Lorraine Tegan Learning Commons (5)

Board of Trustees Chair John Tegan made a gift to name the Tegan Commons in honor of his late wife, Lorraine DeStefano Tegan ’63.

Young School of Nursing (6)

The family of the late trustee emeritus and longtime supporter Richard “Dick” W. Young, PhD, and Sheila Young, named the Richard and Sheila Young School of Nursing—a nationally-recognized Center of Excellence in Nursing Education.

Quad and Luben Plaza (7)

The campus quad is a vibrant centerpiece for campus life, often used for group study, community events, recreation, and outdoor classes. The Luben Plaza is between the quad and St. Joseph Hall, and was named in 2015 in honor of Mary and Joseph, parents of Patricia Luben O’Hearn ’64.

Supporting Students

Significant funding from Now We Fly was, and continues to be, invested in student scholarships and financial aid. Read more about some of the students benefiting from campaign support.