Dr. Mary Klayder, who retires this spring after decades of service to the University of Kansas and our program, has been a mentor to countless students over her career. That mentorship has often included Mary’s strong encouragement for students to seek global experiences — an educational experience she sees as invaluable.

Mary’s boundless energy made the journeys she led, including her Costa Rica-set travel writing program and the beloved London Review, unforgettable, and their related curricular components just as compelling. In both programs, she established a model for affordable, accessible, and deep study abroad experiences that has influenced other’s efforts.

To recognize Mary, her emphasis on learning beyond borders, and her significance to our program and generations of its students, the Mary Klayder Study Abroad Opportunity Fund was established to support student participation in faculty-led programs. This is the fund we hope to grow during this year’s One Day One KU giving event.

We also invite donors who wish for greater freedom in the use of their gifts to contribute to our unrestricted fund — a key resource for us as we respond and adapt to student needs.

Several challenges throughout the 24-hour window will give you ample opportunities to maximize your gift and help us obtain even more funding. Review those challenges and time your contribution, should you see a chance to make your money go further.

Thank you for making us one of your One Day One KU priorities, for recognizing Mary’s legacy along with us, and for helping further our mission to help students launch extraordinary lives.