Before trustee Debra Decker (née Kulikowski) arrived at American University as a first-year student, she had never ventured far beyond her home in the Bronx, New York. AU’s idyllic tree-lined campus, small class sizes, and supportive professors were a world away from her high school experience.

Even though Decker’s studies centered on the School of International Service, she discovered enriching experiences across campus. An art history class prompted her first visit to a museum and ignited a lifelong love of the arts. AU’s then-mandatory physical education class introduced her to healthy habits that inspired the active lifestyle she enjoys to this day. And her accounting minor in the now Kogod School of Business motivated her to pursue an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a career in international project finance.

Decker says her AU professors provided exceptional support throughout her academic journey. In his national security course, professor emeritus Duncan Clark stayed after class to ensure each student knew how a bill became law. His enthusiasm and support inspired Decker to seek an internship on Capitol Hill, and his continued mentorship helped her secure a position with the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.

“There I was, a girl from the Bronx at the White House, boarding a helicopter to an undisclosed location [and] participating in negotiations of arms control agreements,” she says. Her professors’ attention and access—along with her intellectual curiosity and drive—laid the groundwork for an accomplished career in finance, risk management, and national security.

When Decker met her husband, Michael, they learned that they both benefited from scholarship support that helped unlock their potential. Together, they made plans to give back to their respective alma maters.

“Early on, I wanted to set up an AU scholarship because the university gave so much to me,” she says. “I planned at first to do so with a bequest in my will, and then Michael encouraged me to fund the scholarship now and enhance it further through our estate plans. We are delighted to support the growth of students now and into the future.”

The couple invested in the Decker Family Scholarship for Excellence because they know firsthand the transformative power of an American University education and are eager to ensure that promising students are afforded the same benefits they received.

For information on how your charitable estate plan can create a legacy at American University, contact Seth Speyer, executive director of planned giving, at 202-885-3411 or speyer@american.edu; or visit american.edu/plannedgiving.