With a $5.2 million blended gift, retired pharmaceutical scientists Karen Larson and Gary Bicker have established the Karen Larson and Gary Bicker Elevating Excellence Funds at NAU—a multipronged investment in student support and faculty leadership.
Their gift includes $200,000 in immediate funding and a $5 million estate commitment. Together, these funds support:
- The STEM Academic Momentum Scholarship: Designed to encourage persistence and reward progress, this scholarship provides increasing financial support to students majoring in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields as they advance through their undergraduate journey. The scholarship also prioritizes students who participate in NAU’s math readiness programming through the Lumberjack Math Center.
- The Lumberjack Emergency Housing Assistance Fund: A $1 million legacy gift establishes a permanent source of emergency housing support for students facing unexpected financial hardships such as a sudden rent increase or job loss. The fund will be administered through the NAU CARE Center and is designed to prevent short-term setbacks from derailing a student’s path to their degree.
- The Karen Larson and Gary Bicker Math Professorship: This fund begins as a distinguished professorship supporting faculty who lead innovative math readiness programming through the Lumberjack Math Center. Upon fulfillment of the estate gift, it will evolve into an endowed academic leadership role—the Karen Larson and Gary Bicker Distinguished Math Directorship—focused on enhancing math confidence and competence among first-year students entering STEM majors.
Larson and Bicker spent decades at Merck Research Laboratories, where they led drug development initiatives alongside interdisciplinary teams of scientists. Their careers deepened their belief in the importance of supporting the next generation of STEM professionals.
“We’ve had very rewarding careers—both economically and in terms of the work itself,” Larson says. “My hope is to see more young people succeed in and enjoy impactful careers in STEM.”
“I truly believe the country needs to excel in these fields, so it’s important that students are supported and encouraged,” Bicker says. “Some may be extraordinarily gifted, but that potential won’t materialize unless they’re given the help they need to succeed.”
Larson’s advice to others considering philanthropy? “Look at your own personal values—what was important in your life or your career—and think about how you can give that forward.”
