Denzel Washington’s interest in acting developed while a student at Fordham University, where a professor encouraged him to recognize his potential. Years later, the award-winning actor supported the university’s theater program, helping to provide professional instruction and financial aid to students majoring in the performing arts.
Washington graduated from Fordham College at Lincoln Center in 1977. He initially studied journalism but became interested in theater after participating in student productions. Robinson Stone, a professor and former actor who advised him at Fordham, was instrumental in encouraging him to pursue acting. In 2011, Washington made a $2.25 million gift to the university’s theater. education program, which includes $2 million for an endowed chair and $250,000 for graduate scholarships, as described fordham news.
An endowed chair for theater education
A $2 million portion of the donation established the Denzel Washington Chair at the theater. Actress Phylicia Rashad, who played Claire Huxtable on The Cosby Show and won a Tony Award for her stage work, became the inaugural holder of the chair in 2011. The appointment brought an experienced artist to Fordham’s theater program, giving students the opportunity to learn from an established artist.
Rashad won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for playing Lena Younger in the Broadway revival of A Raisin in the Sun. He also directed August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean at the Seattle Repertory Theatre. His experience on stage and screen provided a professional perspective that could complement students’ academic training in performance, character development, and collaboration.
Rashad was the first The artist was awarded the prestigious chair, which has since been joined by other established artists and theater professionals. This position was designed to connect students with experienced practitioners, enhancing their education beyond classroom instruction.
Washington’s own experience at Fordham helps explain the importance of mentorship in his giftedness. Stone encouraged him when he was a student and helped him recognize his potential as an actor. By funding an endowed faculty position, Washington supported a Learning resource through which other students can seek guidance from accomplished professionals.
Scholarship for an undergraduate theater major
The remaining $250,000 established the Denzel Washington Endowed Scholarship for an undergraduate theater major. Fordham’s original announcement stated that the scholarship would support a minority student, preferably someone from the Mount Vernon, New York, school district, where Washington grew up. This gift provided financial support to a student studying theatre, complementing the educational opportunities supported by the endowed chair.
Together, both contributions addressed different needs within theater education. The endowed chair supported instruction by an established professional, while the scholarship helped ease the financial burden on undergraduates studying the performing arts. The combination reflects Washington’s connection to a university where mentorship had helped shape his own career interests.
Washington earned major recognition in film, television, and theater. He won Academy Awards for his performances in Glory and Training Day and received a Tony Award for his leading performance in the 2010 Broadway revival of Fences. His professional achievements took him far beyond the university, but his contributions also reflected the role Fordham played in his development as an actor.
Lifelong connection to Fordham
Washington maintained ties to Fordham after graduation. of the university Hall of Honor Profile Records record that he served on the Fordham University Board of Trustees from 1994 to 2000. He was inducted into the university’s Hall of Honor in 2012 and has returned to the Lincoln Center campus to speak to students about his experiences.
So his relationship with Fordham extended beyond his education and participation in theater. Stone’s encouragement helped Washington pursue acting, while his subsequent gift helped students find their own opportunities in the field. Rather than funding a single production, the charity established resources for professional education and graduate financial aid.
Both parts of Washington’s contribution served different purposes but shared a common goal: supporting the next generation of artists. By establishing an endowed chair and scholarship, he helped strengthen both the teaching and financial support available to theater students at the university, where his interest in acting took shape.