A Lasting Investment in Students

Together with her late husband, Robert Malesardi ’45, P’75, P’79, P’87, Doris Fischer Malesardi S’45, H’25 has helped transform access to a Bucknell education through more than $30 million in philanthropic support for financial aid. Their generosity has inspired additional giving, generating more than $75 million for Bucknell’s endowment and creating scholarship opportunities that will benefit students for generations.

“Supporting students and expanding access to a Bucknell education has been at the heart of everything we wanted to do,” Doris says. “Bob always believed deeply in what Bucknell gave him, and we wanted others to have those same opportunities.”

That commitment continues through the Malesardi Match, which encourages additional investment in endowed scholarships by providing matching funds for qualifying gifts, multiplying the impact of donors across the University.

Most recently, as part of the University’s Be the ’ray Campaign, the couple has established an endowment that strengthens the Gamgort Family Gateway Scholars Program, ensuring Bucknell can continue meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need and eliminating loans for first-generation students in the program.Doris helped establish the Malesardi Arts & Sciences Merit Scholarship Program, one of Bucknell’s premier merit scholarships. The award provides outstanding students in the College of Arts & Sciences with significant financial support while encouraging academic curiosity, leadership and exploration across disciplines. 

In recognition of her extraordinary impact, Bucknell honored Doris with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree during the University’s 175th Commencement ceremony in 2025.

For Doris, however, the greatest reward has never been recognition.

“It’s the students,” she says. “Knowing that more young people can experience everything Bucknell has to offer is what means the most.”