November 23, 2008

In the 1930's, opportunities for women in higher education were limited, but Christine Fortune saw Drexel's College of Home Economics as a conduit to a career. After graduation in 1938, Ms. Fortune taught middle school in Trenton, NJ and worked for Westinghouse Electric before returning to Philadelphia to become the assistant to the dean of Admissions at Drexel. She lived in Allentown with her husband Robert who worked at Pennsylvania Power and Light Company for 35 years before becoming President and CEO of Aegis Insurance Society. The couple traveled extensively prior to Robert's passing in 2006.

"Robert and I wanted to help undergraduate female students get the kind of great education that prepared me for so much in my life," said Ms. Fortune. Her generous gift by Ms. Fortune creates an endowed scholarship in honor of Dean Ardenia Chapman that will fund 75% of one noteworthy female student's education each and every year. "Dean Chapman was an expert in textiles and fashion who had an extraordinary influence on all of us young girls."

If you would like to make a difference for our students, please contact David J. Toll at 215-895-4982 or dtoll@drexel.edu to learn more about how you can support scholarships and Westphal College programs.