Mount Allison University has announced the establishment of the Brenton Wood Environmental Sustainability Research & Initiatives Fund, made possible through an extraordinary gift of $2.6 million from philanthropists Andrew Brenton (’80) and Kerry Wood.

The announcement was made during a special event on campus on April 13, where members of the Mount Allison community gathered to celebrate both the launch of the new fund and the lasting impact of Brenton and Wood’s philanthropy at the University. In 2017, the pair established the Brenton Wood Scholarship, a renewable award for Atlantic Canadian students with financial need, which is one of the most valuable scholarships available at Mount Allison, providing more than $100,000 per year in scholarship funding. 

“This generous new gift will strengthen environmental research at Mount Allison for years to come,” says Provost and VP, Academic and Research Dr. Richard Isnor. “At a time when environmental questions are among the most urgent facing our world, the Brenton Wood Environmental Sustainability Research & Initiatives Fund will create new opportunities for students and faculty to pursue meaningful research, ask important questions, and contribute to solutions.”

At Mount Allison, environmental research is both collaborative and interdisciplinary, drawing on expertise not just in the sciences, but across disciplines. Students and faculty are engaged in hands-on work in the lab and in the field, including research connected to aquatic biomonitoring, freshwater ecosystems, GIS, sustainability practices, and environmental change. This gift also supports a key commitment of the University’s Strategic Plan — environmental sustainability. 

Charlie Basque-Gravel, a third-year biology student and Brenton Wood Scholarship recipient, says the new fund sends a powerful message about the value of environmental inquiry and the potential of student research.

“It confirms that this work matters,” says Basque-Gravel. “It tells students that our ideas matter, that our learning matters, and that the effort we put into understanding environmental issues can lead to real change.”

The Brenton Wood Environmental Sustainability Research & Initiatives Fund is expected to create lasting opportunities for Mount Allison researchers and students, while building on the University’s strong tradition of undergraduate teaching, mentorship, and research excellence.