ST. BONAVENTURE — The upcoming addition to the home of the renowned Jandoli School of Communication at St. Bonaventure University now has a name, thanks to the generosity of one of its most accomplished alumni.
A ceremonial groundbreaking for the Henretta Communication Center, a 6,200-square-foot addition to the Murphy Professional Building, will be held Saturday, Oct. 19, at 2:30 p.m. as part of the Jandoli School’s 75th anniversary celebration.
For the donors, Deb Henretta from the Class of 1983 and her husband, Sean Murray, the magnanimous gesture is as much about family as it is about philanthropy.
Henretta’s father, Elmer, ’59, and brothers Michael, ’85, and Mark, ’90, are also Bonaventure graduates. Deb and Sean met at St. Bonaventure while he worked at the university from 1980-1982.
Henretta and Murray made the significant commitment to recognize 75 years of transformative education in the Jandoli School and to enhance the educational experience for generations of Bonnies to come.
“Bonaventure has been woven into the fabric of my family for almost 70 years and I know all of us have been grateful for the role our Bona’s experience has played in our lives,” Henretta said. “Much of my success is deeply rooted in the values and lessons learned at St. Bona’s. I am grateful to be in a position to give back to the university and contribute to the success of future generations of Bonaventure students.”
The Henretta Communication Center will be a centerpiece for digital media innovation and experiential learning that will transform the Jandoli School. The state-of-the-art center will include a digital newsroom to bring together the campus media outlets and create a collaborative, future-focused facility, said Aaron Chimbel, dean of the school.
The addition will include a high-definition and flexible broadcast studio, podcast and audio studios, and a newsroom that will bring together the campus radio station (WSBU-FM), The Bona Venture student newspaper, SBU-TV, the school’s hyperlocal news site (TAPInto Greater Olean) and future media ventures for the first time to facilitate cross-media innovation.
An atrium, expanded First Amendment Lounge, and meeting spaces for students will make the Henretta Communication Center a gathering spot for students, enabling creativity and connections.
“I cannot thank Deb, Sean and their family enough for their enormous generosity,” Chimbel said. “The Henretta family’s connection with St. Bonaventure stretches back nearly 70 years, and now their legacy of service and commitment to this university will continue on for years to come.”
Hundreds of Jandoli School alumni and friends have invested in the capital expansion. Henretta hopes her family gift will encourage many others to contribute to the project. The amont of the gift was not disclosed.
“The outpouring of support from hundreds of alumni and friends of St. Bonaventure to give to ensure the Jandoli School has a facility that matches our rich legacy and bright future inspires me every day,” Chimbel said. “Our students and future students will benefit from this culture of giving back.”
This capital project will be done in three phases. The Henretta-Murray gift and many others will make phases one and two a reality. Construction of the Henretta Center will begin this winter, Chimbel said, and is expected to be completed in 18 to 24 months.
“We still have work to do, but we’re confident that the momentum of this gift will help carry us through the finish line,” Chimbel said. People interested in contributing to the project can donate here.
In addition to her Bonaventure degree, Henretta received a master’s degree from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications in 1985. In 2010, Henretta was the Commencement speaker at St. Bonaventure and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
Henretta also served two stints as a member of St. Bonaventure’s Board of Trustees, from 2003-2008 until she moved to Singapore to run Procter & Gamble Asia. She returned to the Board from 2016 to 2022, serving as vice chair during her last three years on the Board.
Henretta is an equity partner at Council Advisors (formerly G100 Companies) and serves as an independent board director at publicly held American Eagle Outfitters, Corning Inc., Meritage Homes and NiSource.
Henretta spent 30 years at Procter & Gamble, the world’s largest consumer goods company. While at P&G, she served as president and senior executive officer in charge of several of P&G’s multibillion-dollar businesses including Global e-business, Global Beauty, Global BabyCare and she led P&G Asia acting as the region’s CEO.
Henretta spent seven consecutive years on Fortune’s U.S. and international rankings of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business.
