Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano donate $20 million to Princeton University, two new dorms to be named in their honor

Princeton University alumni Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano have made a $20 million gift to Princeton University, the largest gift to date by Black and Latino donors.

The gift will support the university’s expansion of its undergraduate population, helping fund the construction of two adjoining dormitories in one of the two new residential colleges being built at Princeton. The university will name two buildings in the couple’s honor. One of the dormitories will be named for Jones, a member of the Class of 1993, and the other will be named for her husband, Feliciano, a member of the Class of 1994. The buildings will be the first at Princeton named after Black and Latino benefactors.

Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber said the couple’s generosity makes possible the new dormitories he considers essential to Princeton’s future. “Through their visionary gift, Kwanza and Joséare enabling us to increase the number of outstanding undergraduates we admit and to attract and support talented students from all backgrounds,” Eisgruber said in a written statement. “In addition to supporting the expansion of the undergraduate population, which is among the university’s highest priorities, this historic gift from Kwanza and José diversifies Princeton’s institutional narrative in meaningful ways by weaving their names, identities, and experiences into our shared campus tapestry. As we strive to make Princeton a fully inclusive community, we are fortunate to have their partnership.”

The university began construction on the two colleges, located south of Poe Field and east of Elm Drive, earlier this year. The new residential colleges are scheduled to open for the 2022-23 academic year. They will allow Princeton to expand the undergraduate student body by about 10% while also providing the school with flexibility so that other campus housing can be renovated or replaced, officials said. The addition of about 500 more undergraduates will allow the university to admit more talented students who will realize the benefits of a Princeton education, enhance the diversity and vitality of the campus community, and contribute to society after their graduations, officials said.

“We see this gift as the color of commitment. It celebrates the many contributions to Princeton’s legacy from its diverse students and alumni making a tremendous impact in the world,” Jones said in a written statement. “It represents what it means for us to individually and collectively thrive. It demonstrates that people of color belong in the room and sit at the table as patrons and co-creators to help the University to continue to do the work of service to humanity. Most importantly, during this time of national reckoning on race and racial injustice, it highlights the benefits that diversity, inclusion, and belonging can bring. Princeton is a microcosm of America; we’re modeling that working together makes us all stronger moving forward.”

Jones is an artist, investor, lawyer, and entrepreneur who founded SUPERCHARGED, a media company that specializes in self-development and hosts a community-driven platform. She previously taught cross-cultural negotiations at New York University and was a mediator for the New York City Civil Court. She serves on numerous boards, including the board of directors for the Susan G. Komen organization and the board of trustees of Bennett College, a historically black liberal arts college for women. Jones also has recorded multiple music albums, with several of her songs hitting the top ten on Billboard Magazine’s dance/electronic music charts. 

Feliciano is the founder and a managing partner of Clearlake Capital Group, a private investment firm based in Santa Monica, Calif., that he co-founded in 2006. He previously worked at Goldman, Sachs & Co., and the Tennenbaum Capital Group. He sits on numerous corporate boards, including serving as chairman of the board of directors for Janus International, Pretium Packaging, Unifrax International, and Wheel Pros, as well as nonprofit boards, including the Robert Toigo Foundation and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization.

In 2014, Jones and Feliciano co-founded the Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano SUPERCHARGED Initiative, a philanthropic grant-making and investment organization that invests in people and entities that can make a lasting impact across four key areas: Education, entrepreneurship, equity, and empowerment.

“Kwanza and I are committed not only to continuing Princeton’s tradition of excellence in academia but also in making sure that we can make that available to more deserving students who represent a cross-section of our society,” Feliciano said. “We both have the privilege of being Princeton graduates, thanks to the many sacrifices of our parents who recognized the value of education. We recognize that our Princeton education and network have had a fundamental impact on our career path and success. As such, we hope that our gift can be used to continue providing access to education and opportunity to many others, and we hope to inspire other alumni, including alumni of color, to give and be even more active stakeholders of the Princeton community.”