USD-Magazine-Spring-2025

On her computer screen is a Post-it note with a simple phrase: “What would Donald do?”

For Darlene Marcos Shiley, this daily reminder of her beloved late husband Donald guides the decisions she makes and the way she lives her life.

WHY IS EDUCATION SO IMPORTANT TO YOU AND DONALD? Both Donald and myself came from poor backgrounds. But we learned at a very early age that education was the way to move forward. You’re not going to go anyplace if you don’t get educated and prepare yourself for what the world has out there. Lots of times people question whether higher education is necessary. I don’t because my family made it very clear that education was the way to get out of where we were. And it’s not to just be wildly successful and have lots of money, it’s to better yourself. Donald was raised the same way — and we believe that education is everything.

HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME INVOLVED WITH USD?

The Shiley name is ubiquitous at USD, and Donald and Darlene’s impact is felt across the campus. This past November, in front of more than 950 people at USD’s 75th Anniversary Founders Gala, the Shiley legacy catapulted even further through a record-breaking $75 million contribution to the university to support STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) initiatives. Shiley sat down with University of San Diego Magazine to reflect on her life with Donald, her history with USD and the reasons behind her transformational gift. The Shiley STEM Initiative is a comprehensive program that will enhance the university’s existing STEM programs and place it among the top programs nationally for STEM research and education. The gift will also support signature USD programs that have been past beneficiaries of Donald and Darlene Shiley’s generosity.

We went to a USD event with friends and [President] Art Hughes said the phrase “values based education.” It was like a spotlight and fireworks — that was it. It’s not just an education, it’s values based. You can’t just go out and do whatever you want to. You’ve got to make sure that what you’re doing is positive and productive. Integrity matters. Your word matters. I’m not sure we’re teaching that as much in some schools as we should be, but schools like the University of San Diego are, and that’s why I put my attention there. And now I’ve been involved with USD for over 30 years. The values, the drive, the education — all those things have to come together, and they can at a place like the University of San Diego.

LEARN MORE about how this transformative gift will support STEM and signature programs at USD. sandiego.edu/stem

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