Donor PROFILE

2023 FAIRFIELD AWARDS DINNER CO-CHAIRS

Patricia c o M ey P reston ’80 and a drienne J ohnson ’91

Encore! Patricia Comey Preston ’80 and Adrienne Johnson ’91 will again co-chair Fairfield Awards Dinner. The event — scheduled to take place this year on April 12 — is Fairfield’s primary fundraiser dedicated to raising money for scholarships, and actively celebrates the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Adrienne Johnson ’91 admits that she and Trish Comey Preston ’80 had “such a blast” working together as co-chairs of last year’s Fairfield Awards Dinner that they volunteered to take the lead once again.

The two, who also serve together on the Charles F. Dolan School of Business Advisory Board, are passionate about expanding access to education for those who wouldn’t otherwise have the means.

“Scholarships allow access to this amazing Jesuit education at Fairfield, which makes the work we do worthwhile. It can change a generation, and that’s what inspires me,” said Johnson.

“Fairfield’s focus on cura personalis [and on] preparing young individuals to be men and women for others has shaped who I am personally and professionally,” Johnson continued. “It’s all about excellence in academics, and at the same time understanding how you can make the world a better place for others.”

She and her husband, Lee

Dowling, have four teenagers. In addition to working full-time, they live on a cattle farm in Central New York. Their beef is sold locally to individuals and restaurants, and since the pandemic they have been supporting local organizations including a nearby Syracuse mission that serves the chronically homeless.

Johnson has supported scholarships through the Fairfield Awards Dinner and has contributed to the Fairfield Fund to support students’ most urgent needs.

Agenerous supporter of the Awards Dinner, Tricia Comey Preston is also the president of her Manhattan co-op board, on the executive committee of her neighborhood association, and she works with an animal rescue group.

She maintains close friendships with a tight circle of friends and eagerly looks forward to reunions.

Still, Preston never thought about volunteering at the University until she was asked to join the

Dolan School’s Advisory Board a few years ago.

“Sometimes, all it takes is an ask,” said the former accounting major who is also a member of Fairfield’s Bellarmine Society. Preston is committed to supporting Fairfield students through her continued advocacy.

Her involvement with the Dolan School has had the added benefit of bringing her in contact with students. As a mentor, she has been impressed by the emphasis placed on communication skills alongside academic pursuits.

“The practice of giving presentations, of clearly articulating ideas to a larger group, is so essential in business. You can’t be too good at public speaking,” she said. “I’ve also noticed that the students collaborate on many team projects, and that’s really what business is all about. They’ll use those skills all the time.”

The returning co-chairs agree that students and recent graduates have brought considerable energy to the Awards Dinner. “I have been inspired by their commitment to supporting access to higher education and I am in awe of their media savvy!” said Johnson.

“Our roles are to build excitement, to reach out to friends and corporations, and to bring passion and commitment to the committee so that they’ll also reach out to their contacts,” said Preston. “I loved my time at Fairfield, and want to ensure that future generations of students can have that same opportunity.”

The 2023 Fairfield Awards Dinner, slated for April 12, will once again be held at New York’s Cipriani 42nd Street. Since its inception in 1988, the event has raised more than $20 million for the Alumni Multicultural Scholarship Fund and other endowment scholarships. This year, 18 students received awards of nearly $31,000 each from the endowment fund.

“As a first-generation student, this scholarship made it possible for me to attend Fairfield. It motivated me to keep my grades up, and opened doors to my learning, social development, and individual growth. Maintaining a good GPA meant I could keep my scholarship and keeping my scholarship is what I needed to succeed.”

Glorimar Falcon ’23 Major: Social Work

Cipriani 42nd Street

New York City

WED., APRIL 12, 2023

Glorimar is just one of 18 students in 2022-23 who benefited from the Alumni Multicultural Scholarship Fund, which is supported by the Fairfield Awards Dinner.

When our students receive the support they need, it emboldens them to immerse themselves in all Fairfield has to offer.

Learn how you can impact students’ lives at fairfield.edu/awardsdinner or by scanning the QR code.

Benefiting Scholarships at Fairfield University

WINTER 2022-23

A Selection Of Upcoming Campus Events

Fairfield University Alumni Association

fairfield.edu/alumni | 203-254-4280

Email us at alumni@fairfield.edu

Fairfield University Glee Club

75th Diamond Jubilee Concert

SAT., APRIL 1 | 7:30 P.M.

Fairfield Awards Dinner

Cipriani 42nd Street

WED., APRIL 12 | 6 - 10 P.M.

Quick Center for the Arts

quickcenter.com | 203-254-4010

Follow us! @FairfieldQuick

Vertigo Dance

Pardes

WED., JAN. 18 | 8 P.M.

The Kingdom Choir

FRI., MARCH 10 | 7:30 P.M.

GLOBAL THEATRE: PERFORMANCE SERIES

Gospel, Rap, and Social Justice

TUES., MARCH 21 | 7 P.M.

THEATRE FAIRFIELD

Independent Play Project

FRI., JAN. 27 – SAT., JAN. 28 | 7:30 P.M.

SAT., JAN. 28 – SUN., JAN. 29 | 2 P.M.

OPEN VISIONS FORUM

Bret Stephens

THURS., JAN. 26 | 7:30 P.M.

Nick Gillespie & Bhaskar Sunkara

THURS., FEB. 23 | 7:30 P.M. College of Arts & Sciences Common Ground Series

THE MET: LIVE IN HD

Fedora (Giordano)

SAT., JAN. 14 | 1 P.M. (LIVE) AND 6 P.M. (ENCORE)

Lohengrin (Wagner)

SUN., MARCH 26 | 1 P.M. (ENCORE)

OPEN VISIONS FORUM: ESPRESSO

Vijay Iyer With Michael Ciavaglia

WED., FEB. 1 | 7:30 P.M.

Steven Rivellino

WED., FEB. 15 | 7:30 P.M.

Garth Greenwell

WED., MARCH 8 | 7:30 P.M.

FREDRICKSON FAMILY INNOVATION LAB

Andrea Kantrowitz

WED., MARCH 1 | 7:30 P.M.

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE

The Crucible (Arthur Miller)

TUES., MARCH 7 | 2 & 7 P.M.

Center for Catholic Studies

fairfield.edu/cs

The 2023 Bellarmine Lecture

Rev. Matt Carnes, S.J.

WED., FEB. 15 | 7:30 P.M.

Living Theology Workshops

TUES., FEB. 7 | 5 P.M.

TUES., MARCH 7 | 5 P.M.

Bennett Center for Judaic Studies

fairfield.edu/bennett

The 17th Annual Jewish/Christian Engagement Lecture

Rev. Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, PhD

WED., MARCH 22 | 7:30 P.M.

Fairfield University Art Museum

fairfield.edu/museum | 203-254-4046

Email us at museum@fairfield.edu

Women’s Rights Are Human Rights

Walsh Gallery

JAN. 20 – APRIL 8

Norma Minkowitz: Body to Soul

Bellarmine Hall Galleries

JAN. 27 – APRIL 8