A Miami University alumna has made a seven-figure donation to the school's entrepreneurship program, which also happens to bear her family's name.
Amy Altman, executive vice president of clinical affairs and diagnostics at Safe Health, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based health care tech company, has gifted $1 million to the John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship.
Amy Altman is the niece of John Altman, whose name graces the institute, part of Miami’s Farmer School of Business. John Altman started and sold multiple companies over the years. He eventually returned to run the fledgling entrepreneurship program at his alma mater. Miami named the institute in his honor in 2019.
“I am honored to give this gift to the Institute for Entrepreneurship, named for my uncle, with whom I share both love for Miami and the spirit of philanthropy,” Altman said in a news release. “Miami’s focus on entrepreneurship in education is crucial in fostering the growth of innovators and leaders.”
Amy Altman serves as president of the John W. Altman Charitable Foundation and has served on Miami’s entrepreneurship advisory board since 2016.
She holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in microbiology from Miami University and a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Vanderbilt University. Prior to Safe Health, she also served stints at Luminex Corp., a biotech company; and Booz Allen Hamilton, a strategic technology consulting firm.
Miami said the funds will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Farmer Family Foundation, launched by former Cintas founder, CEO and chairman Richard Farmer. The gift will support curricular and co-curricular programming, Miami said. Highlights from the program include the university’s annual Startup Weekend and RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition, held bi-annually for student-founders.
“This new gift will allow us to continue to expand the impact and reach of our entrepreneurship program across campus,” Tim Holcomb, chair of the department of entrepreneurship, said in the release.
Miami has more than 22,600 students and 4,400 employees, according to DBJ research.
