Why I give: Thomas Dannenberg
Thomas E. Dannenberg, AM’03, is a Senior Vice President at Huntington Securities, Inc., and an avid book collector. He has been a donor to the Library for over a decade and, for the past two years, volunteered on the judging panel of the T. Kimball Brooker Prize for Undergraduate Book Collecting. In May 2022, the University’s Board of Trustees invited Dannenberg to join the Library Council and serve as a volunteer advisor and advocate for the Library.
Amber Cullen, Director of Development and Associate Dean, asked Dannenberg to explain why it is important to him to give to the Library.
What impact did the Library have on your academic studies at UChicago?
Having the use of a world-class library to support my graduate studies at UChicago was foundational to my academic success. I was truly amazed at the extent of the collections and the depth of the resources at the University of Chicago Library. From my first week on campus through the completion of my thesis on political and religious dissidence in early modern England, I depended extensively on those resources. My time in the Regenstein stacks and in Special Collections—where I studied history texts and memoirs written around the time of the Rebellion of the Northern Earls in 1569—are some of my fondest memories of UChicago.
Why do you believe it’s important for UChicago alumni to give to the University?
My experience at UChicago was transformative, not only because of the professional opportunities it created but also because of the intellectual growth it stimulated. I believe alumni giving is the surest way to guarantee the University can continue to make a difference for students and for society.
You are a generous supporter of the Library. What motivated you to make the Library part of your philanthropy?
The Library was an integral part of my experience at UChicago, and its staff, collections, systems, and spaces contributed greatly to my success as a student and my growth as a person. And in the 20 years that have passed since I was on campus, the developments in library science and the greatly expanded possibilities for the role of the library in education have made my commitment to support the UChicago Library even stronger.
Torsten Reimer, new University Librarian and Dean of the University Library, has highlighted his priorities in our current edition of Libra. Are there any initiatives that you are particularly excited about?
I’m thrilled with the University’s selection of Dean Reimer and believe that all of his priorities reflect the centrality of the Library in the University experience. In particular, I’m eager to see the Library pursue his initiatives around community engagement. UChicago is a world-class institution in a world-class city, and there are ways in which the ties between the two can be strengthened. There are also areas in which the city needs help; the resources of the Library could be leveraged to provide that help in truly productive ways, to the lasting benefit of the community and the University.
What makes giving to the Library year after year a rewarding experience for you as a donor?
It is gratifying to me as a donor to see the tangible impact my support can have as I have watched collections develop, facilities expand, and resources deepen. I’m inspired to continue to give because I want to see what else we can accomplish.
