Donald and Karen Wilson, P’26: Finding Their Fairfield

When Don and Karen Wilson first visited Fairfield University with their son, Brady ’26, they expected a typical hour-long tour. Instead, they spent nearly three hours exploring campus, meeting faculty, and discovering that Fairfield was where Brady belonged. Interested in biology, Brady was drawn to the University’s emphasis on undergraduate research—an experience that would become one of the most meaningful parts of his time at Fairfield.

“It was the tour that sold him,” Don said. “Seeing the labs and learning that students could begin research right away—it really made an impression.”

That first visit set the tone for a lasting relationship with the University. While still living in Santa Clara, Calif., Don and Karen’s entry into the Fairfield community started with an out-of-region parent reception during Brady’s first-year move-in. They relocated to Connecticut while their son was still a student and their involvement grew to include attending performances at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, Parents Leadership Council (PLC) events, and other gatherings. “It wasn’t solely based on the fact that our son went there,” Karen said. “We developed our own lives at the University.”

The Wilsons’ commitment deepened over time. During the past four years, they’ve been active PLC members, they’ve served as Parent Ambassadors, and they volunteered on the Fairfield Awards Dinner committee. “The Parents Leadership Council was a great vehicle for us to get involved,” Karen said.

What strengthened their connection was the caliber of the people they met, from the President to faculty and staff. “Every one of these professors… everyone on the faculty is truly invested in your child’s wellbeing, in their development and their education,” said Karen, “and it’s very visible.”

Fairfield’s mission-driven culture, their son’s passion for biology research, and their own University connections—Karen’s father was a 1968 engineering graduate, and Don is a Class of ’86 Fairfield Prep alumnus— shaped where they’ve directed their time and generosity. Don, who recently retired as senior director of multiport design engineering at Intuitive, found his way into the School of Engineering and Computing (SEC) when his company began sponsoring senior design projects. He now serves on the SEC Advisory Board, mentors students, and is excited for the school’s future. “Working on these projects with the students, I like doing that more than my job, honestly,” he said.

Karen, an educator with 26 years in teaching, instructional coaching, and STEM integration, is now a member of the advisory board for the School of Education and Human Development.

Their generosity has followed their passions: the Wilsons made a major gift in support of student research in the Biology Department of the John Charles Meditz College of Arts and Sciences and a planned gift benefiting biology research and the School of Education and Human Development. They’ve also established the Wilson Family Research Scholars Fund. They are members of the Executive PLC and the Bellarmine Society, extending their support across three of Fairfield’s five schools.

Don and Karen feel that their involvement is its own reward. “As we were attending these experiences, it became clear to us that there was more that we wanted to do to support the school and support students,” Karen said.

For Don, the payoff is personal. “I like being able to go to sleep at night thinking that we’re actually making a difference, even if it’s just in one person’s life,” he said.

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