Magazine Ad Sparks Generous Future Gift to Study Abroad

Marcia Limper Fulham `70, a retired US Navy Captain, was thumbing through the USF Magazine and noticed a number to call if thinking about including USF in estate planning. Fulham’s first call to Office of Gift Planning led to numerous conversations and ultimately resulted in the Thomas and Marcia Limper Fulham Endowed Fellowship for Study Abroad.

“I was delighted to learn that USF wanted to hear about my areas of interest and where I might want my gift to have long-term impact as we were planning our legacy,” said Fulham, who with her husband, Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Fulham, a College of the Holy Cross alum, has three children and five grandchildren.

Fulham, who has spent much of her life abroad, said, “I came to USF from a small town in rural Northern California and found meeting students from all over the US and world stimulating, and occasionally intimidating. The aspect of USF that made a lasting difference was the opportunity to spend a year studying abroad. I became more open to new people and experiences and gained a passion for engaging with other cultures.”

This led to a 26-year career as a Navy officer. Fulham served as Deputy Commander of the US Naval Base in Naples, Italy during a period of labor unrest and was later Commanding Officer of the US Naval Base in Bahrain during the period of No-Fly zones over Iraq. A senior woman in the US military forces was a novel experience for local officials in these areas in the late 1990s.

Now retired, Fulham plans how to give back and said, “Because I had found the study abroad experience so meaningful, I want to help make the opportunity available to any student who wishes to participate. During my year abroad, I was away every weekend seeing new places.

A few students had to remain in Florence because they did not have the funds to travel. Many students at USF depend on scholarships, loans, and grants. I want to help alleviate the study abroad cost issue.”

College of Arts and Sciences Dean Eileen Chia-Ching Fung praised the Fulhams.

“The Fulhams’ generous gift will have a huge impact on our students' lifelong learning by enabling them to build intercultural competency and cultural humility. I see students learn to develop the skills, attitudes, and values that are critical for them to become responsible global citizens working in an increasingly diverse world. This is truly a transformative gift for our students,” she said.

The Fulhams hope their gift will not only help students; they wish to inspire other USF alumni to plan how they wish to leave their mark on the world.

If you would like to discuss your legacy and learn more about how you can support USF with an estate or retirement plan gift, please contact Office of Gift Planning by calling (415) 422-4163, emailing giftplanning@usfca.edu or explore our website.