April 17, 2025

ArtCenter College Of Design Receives $16.9 Million Gift From Late Trustee Chair Emeritus Judy Webb

Gift Significantly Bolsters Scholarship Support at the College

Gift Expands Existing Endowed Scholarship Created by Webb’s Mother, Martha Marsh Chandler, Which Has Already Benefited Hundreds of Students

Webb’s Philanthropic Legacy at ArtCenter Tops $24 Million and Propels the College’s Endowment Past $100 Million

PASADENA, CA (April 17, 2025) – ArtCenter College of Design is pleased to announce that it has received a $16.9 million gift from the late Trustee Chair Emeritus Judy Webb, whose involvement with the institution stretches back decades. The gift has been designated to the Martha Marsh Chandler Endowed Scholarship, which was created by Webb’s mother.

Since its inception, the scholarship has helped make it possible for approximately 500 talented students to attend the College. With this gift, Webb’s philanthropic legacy at ArtCenter now tops $24 million and propels the College’s endowment well past $100 million.

“The significance of Judy’s gift cannot be overstated,” said Karen Hofmann, president of the College. “It strengthens ArtCenter’s endowment and sets an inspiring example of philanthropy. By entrusting the College with her estate, Judy has ensured that her mother’s legacy—and her own—will shape the lives of students for generations to come.”

Both Webb and her mother, Martha Marsh Chandler, were longtime members of ArtCenter100, a group of dedicated art and design patrons at the College committed to supporting student scholarships. The group was established in 1986 by Trustee Emeritus Alyce de Roulet Williamson, a member of Webb’s family. Begun in 1988, the Martha Marsh Chandler Endowed Scholarship was created to, in Chandler’s own words, “encourage excellence in design for the future by helping needy students with strong creative potential.”

“Judy’s decision to support the Martha Marsh Chandler Endowed Scholarship aligned with her deep understanding of ArtCenter’s mission and needs, which she gained during her decades-long involvement with the institution,” said Melanie Burzynski, ArtCenter’s senior vice president of advancement.

Webb, who passed away in February of last year, gave generously to her mother’s endowed scholarship throughout her lifetime. With this gift, the endowment is anticipated to produce $1 million annually in perpetuity. Funds from the additional gift will be awarded beginning in the fall of 2025.

“A gift of this magnitude ensures that ArtCenter can continue attracting the most talented students, regardless of financial background,” said Tom Stern, the College’s senior vice president of enrollment management and student affairs. “By significantly expanding scholarship support, we are strengthening our ability to recruit and retain the next generation of creative leaders.”

Reflecting on their mother’s gift, her children–Scott Haskins, Eliza Koeppel and John Haskins–shared the following statement: “As parents ourselves, with children heading off to college, we understand the high cost of education. It was our mother’s and grandmother’s belief that everyone should have access to higher education. We are filled with pride to know that this gift will help students pursue their dreams at ArtCenter. It’s incredibly moving to know that our mother’s legacy and her boundless appreciation of art and design will carry on.”

“This scholarship has not only opened doors for me but has also fueled my determination to succeed against the odds,” said Morgan Schmitz, recipient of a Martha Marsh Chandler Endowed scholarship and a first-generation student who will graduate this spring.

Beyond her financial generosity, Webb was an engaged champion for the College, serving on ArtCenter’s board of trustees from 1991–2018 and becoming the College’s first woman Chair from 2004–2007. She served on numerous committees at the College, including the Advancement Committee, the Board Governance Committee, and the Strategic Study Committee. In 2018, she was honored with the title of Trustee Chair Emeritus.

To learn more about planned giving at ArtCenter, please contact Audrey Pettyjohn, director of planned giving, at (626) 396-2496 or audrey.pettyjohn@artcenter.edu.

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About Judy Webb
Webb was the granddaughter of the late Harry Chandler, who, along with his father-in-law General Harrison Gray Otis, was largely responsible for transforming the Los Angeles Times into the leading newspaper of the West. Webb was the president of Lothrop Ventures, a real estate development company she founded in 1987. Through Lothrop, she built storage facilities, single-family homes and office properties in the San Francisco Bay Area. During her lifetime, Webb placed a high priority on civic involvement, serving on several boards of cultural institutions, including at UC Berkeley, SFMOMA, the San Francisco Symphony, the National Tropical Botanical Garden, and ArtCenter College of Design.

About ArtCenter100
ArtCenter100 was founded in 1986 by Trustee Emeritus Alyce de Roulet Williamson to provide scholarships for students and connect the community with the College. Then-President David Brown recognized the urgent need to expand scholarship support, and Alyce embraced the challenge—rallying friends and fellow art and design enthusiasts to join her cause. Nearly four decades later, ArtCenter100 has helped nearly 500 emerging artists and designers across a wide range of disciplines. The group has raised millions for scholarships and inspired many members to establish their own endowed scholarships and name campus spaces. To learn more about ArtCenter100, visit artcenter.edu/giving or email giving@artcenter.edu.

About ArtCenter College of Design
Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education. ArtCenter offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a wide variety of industrial design disciplines as well as visual and applied arts. Renowned for both its ties to industry and its social impact initiatives, ArtCenter is the first design school to receive the United Nations’ Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status. Throughout the College’s long and storied history, ArtCenter alumni have had a profound impact on popular culture, the way we live, and important issues in our society.

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