SMITHFIELD, RI—Bryant University is pleased to announce a significant gift from Brad ’87 and Barbara Caron P’23 that will expand the Campus Ministry, support student faith formation and leadership development, and expand programming and initiatives. As part of the gift, a full-time Catholic Coordinator position will be established to support, organize, and expand Catholic life on campus, while providing an additional source of consistent spiritual counsel, visibility, and community-building.
“I am profoundly grateful to Brad and Barbara for their commitment to supporting our community and recognizing spiritual wellbeing as a pillar of student life,” says President Ross Gittell, Ph.D. “Their generous gift to expand Campus Ministry will advance Bryant’s mission to cultivate leaders of strong character who value service, dialogue, and compassion.”
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Inge-Lise Ameer, Ed.D. adds, “This transformative gift recognizes the importance of supporting the whole student—mind, body, and spirit—while understanding spiritual wellbeing as a vital contributor to resilience, purpose, leadership development, and community connection.”
The gift will also support additional education and dialogue-based programs that promote understanding of diverse faith traditions, while encouraging respectful engagement and shared learning across the Bryant community. It will also promote student faith formation and leadership development through retreats, service opportunities, and training that cultivate spiritual growth, ethical reflection, and community responsibility.
“There is a vibrant Catholic community at Bryant and it is my hope this gift will strengthen Catholic life and pastoral presence on campus, deepening faith formation, community engagement, and service,” says Brad Caron. “It’s a way to support students, build community, and further foster the sense of belonging that defines the Bryant experience.”
“Our Campus Ministry was established to provide students a shared space to worship, gather in fellowship, engage in religious study, and participate in spiritually enriching programs as part of their broader education journey,” concludes Director of Campus Ministry, Rabbi Steven Jablow. “Brad and Barbara Caron’s gift will have an immediate and lasting impact by ensuring Bryant continues to be a welcoming home for Catholic students as well as all faith traditions.”
About Bryant University
For 163 years, Bryant University has been at the forefront of delivering an exceptional education that anticipates the future and prepares students to be innovative leaders of character in a changing world. The university delivers an integrated academic and student life experience, with nationally recognized academic programs at the intersection of business, liberal arts, and health and behavioral sciences, while embedding applied artificial intelligence and experiential learning across the curriculum.
Located on a 465-acre contemporary campus in Smithfield, R.I., Bryant enrolls over 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 41 states and 50 countries. Bryant is recognized as a top one percent national leader in student education outcomes and ROI and is highly ranked by U.S. News and World Report, The Wall Street Journal, QS Stars, Money, Poets&Quants, and College Factual. Bryant.edu