MSU Receives $3.8M for School of Packaging Renovation, Endowed Faculty

Alumnus of the Michigan State University School of Packaging in East Lansing, Charles (Chuck) L. and Jacqueline (Jackie) C. Frasier, have gifted the school more than $3.8 million to complete the fundraising goal and allow renovation construction to begin on the School of Packaging’s building, as well as create an endowed faculty position in packaging.
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Chuck and Jackie Frasier have gifted the Michigan State University School of Packaging more than $3.8 million to renovate the building and create and endowed faculty position. // Courtesy of Michigan State University
Chuck and Jackie Frasier have gifted the Michigan State University School of Packaging more than $3.8 million to renovate the building and create and endowed faculty position. // Courtesy of Michigan State University

Alumnus of the Michigan State University School of Packaging in East Lansing, Charles (Chuck) L. and Jacqueline (Jackie) C. Frasier, have gifted the school more than $3.8 million to complete the fundraising goal and allow renovation construction to begin on the School of Packaging’s building, as well as create an endowed faculty position in packaging.

“It was time to give back. The School of Packaging was where I started, and I felt that so many others should have that ticket. The school is high caliber and very well respected in the industry,” says Chuck Frasier.

“The building needs some touching up. It’s pretty much identical to the way I left it at graduation. The renderings got us excited, but ultimately, we really want to see it completed before we’re no longer here. We wanted MSU to break ground, so we decided to give again.”

The Frasiers made both the first gift to launch the renovation campaign and the last gift needed for the first phase of renovations. The gifts, totaling $2.3 million, will name the Charles L. and Jacqueline C. Frasier Sustainability Lab and the Charles L. and Jacqueline C. Frasier Atrium in the School of Packaging building. Additionally, they committed $1.5 million to endow a professorship through an estate gift.

“We are grateful for Chuck and Jackie’s support for the building renovation and their foresight to endow a professorship to help prepare the next generation of packaging leaders,” says Dr. Samuel L. Stanley, president of MSU. “I am pleased that MSU will be able to honor their generosity with critical spaces in the School of Packaging Building and an important faculty position.”

The Frasier Sustainability Lab will help advance the school’s research and data-driven approach to finding sustainable solutions that help society harness the benefits of packaging materials while simultaneously finding responsible end-of-life packaging solutions.

“The School of Packaging has several talented faculty members making important advances in packaging sustainability,” says Matt Daum, director of the School of Packaging. “By upgrading and enlarging one of our core labs dedicated to sustainability, the Frasiers demonstrate commitment to our program and ensure world-class research continues to be carried out.”

Chuck Frasier attributes much of his success to his time at MSU. A 1970 School of Packaging alumnus, Frasier started taking courses at a community college and later transferred to MSU as a civil engineering major. He took one packaging class and found his true passion.

“The School of Packaging is a steppingstone for opportunities that leads to other things — it’s an opportunity. It made such a difference in my career. One opportunity after another arose, but it all started with the School of Packaging at Michigan State,” says Chuck Frasier. “I was going to school for one thing, and packaging caught my eye. It’s all because of packaging — packaging got my career going.”