USC renames College of Engineering and Computing after Lowcountry family’s $30M gift

The University of South Carolina renamed its College of Engineering and Computing after a family with historic ties to the school following a significant donation.

It is now the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing.

Alex Molinaroli, a 1983 USC alumnus, and his wife, Kristin Ihle Molinaroli, donated $30 million dollars to the university. The former CEO of Johnson Controls, Alex has been a “strong advocate” of USC, university officials said, and his previous contributions have helped spur innovation and student advancement.

“A degree from the University of South Carolina can change your life and be an enabler to provide generational change for your family,” Alex Molinaroli said. “The University of South Carolina always was and still is a family affair. It is a privilege for my family’s name to be associated with the College of Engineering and Computing as it becomes an incubator and foundation developer for the students who will be the next Fortune 100 CEOs and successful entrepreneurs.”

The Molinaroli family has deep roots at the university. The gift was given in honor of seven USC graduates dating back generations to the 1930s, including Alex’s father, Adrian, uncle Remo, aunt Elenora, brother Raymond and cousins Charles and Marion. Another Molinaroli student will begin in the fall. The family’s impact on South Carolina has spanned from the Charleston Navy Yard to the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

“With this extraordinary gift from Alex and Kristin Molinaroli, we are embarking on a new era for the College of Engineering and Computing,” USC President Michael Amiridis said. “Their generous commitment will empower the college to enhance its academic stature and explore its fullest potential for exceptional education, research, workforce development and economic impact in South Carolina and beyond.”

The sizable gift will be used to support the creation of new, high-demand programs, student and faculty recruitment, facility and equipment enhancements and research start-ups. It will also establish the college’s role as a leading research institution in the Southeast as well as a global competitor, Alex Molinaroli said.

“We are grateful for the Molinarolis’ extraordinary generosity and shared vision for our college’s role in shaping a better future for our state, region and nation,” Hossein Haj-Hariri, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing, said. “Their gift will enable us to enhance our educational, research and partnership efforts to transform our state.”

The college is the fourth USC school named for a donor, the second in the last year. In November, the Joseph F. Rice School of Law was named for lawyer and alumnus Joe Rice. The Arnold School of Public Health was named in 2000 for business leader Normal J. Arnold and the Darla Moore School of Business was named in 1998 after financial investor and alumna Darla Moore.