Jarvis CDM student Jordan Orelli gives Eugene Jarvis a demo of his video game while faculty members Yele Adelakun and Lien Tran cheer them on in the new Jarvis Student Center for Innovation and Collaboration. (DePaul University/Randall Spriggs)
A buzzing crowd of faculty, staff and students gathered May 20, 2022, in the DePaul Center to celebrate Eugene P. Jarvis and DePaul trustee Sasha L. Gerritson (MUS ’99) and their landmark gift to the university. In recognition of the couple’s generosity and leadership, the college was officially renamed the Eugene P. Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media.
Jarvis, a trailblazer in the video game industry, spoke about his love of game design and dreams for the college’s future.
“For the last 40-odd years, I’ve dedicated my life to developing new arcade video games,” Jarvis said. “As videogame complexity has increased dramatically, the computing, digital art and design skills required are even more intense. I truly believe education is the key to empowering today’s young, emerging creators.”
Those in attendance got a first look at the new Jarvis Student Center for Innovation and Collaboration, located in the concourse level of the DePaul Center. The vivid and welcoming space includes both wide and cozy spaces for meetings, as well as technology for video editing, game design, animation and more.
“The center will serve as a hub of interdisciplinary activity for our students and for our faculty,” said Provost Salma Ghanem. “It will strengthen the academic-to-industry pipeline and connect our students directly with industry professionals. In short, the gift will create incredible opportunities for our students that will change their lives.”
Jarvis and Gerritson’s gift also supports an endowed scholarship and research collaboration with DePaul’s George and Tanya Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness.
“Today is a very special and historic day for DePaul,” said A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., president of DePaul. “Thanks to your incredible generosity, DePaul will continue to empower generations of leaders and innovators.”
David Miller, dean of CDM, agreed that the event was one of the most momentous events in his 41-year tenure at DePaul. “This transformative gift from Eugene and Sasha opens up limitless possibilities for the students, faculty and staff of CDM,” Miller said.
Read more about Jarvis and the gift here.
Eugene Jarvis addresses the crowd gathered for the celebration. (DePaul University/Randall Spriggs)
The new Jarvis Student Center for Innovation and Collaboration. (DePaul University/Randall Spriggs)
David Miller, dean of the Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media, speaks at the celebration. (DePaul University/Randall Spriggs)
Jarvis, center, gathers with Gabriel and Jo Esteban before the event. (DePaul University/Randall Spriggs)
The Jarvis College's new sign is unveiled on the Loop Campus.