Biography

Jane Jorgensen, an educator, philanthropist, and proud Indiana University alumna, serves on the IU Foundation Board of Directors and is a founding member of the Women’s Philanthropy Leadership Council and the Queer Philanthropy Circle. Jane and her husband, Jay, have generously supported a wide array of initiatives across the university. Among these is the Jorgensen Family Global Gateway Scholarship, which provides international field experiences for student teachers in the School of Education. The Jorgensens have also been key supporters of the IU Cinema, underwriting its building renovation and the successful Jorgensen Guest Filmmaker Series, which has allowed the cinema to host luminaries such as Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, and many others. 

The Jorgensens also established the Jorgensen IULMIA Fellowship, a graduate fellowship within IU Libraries to support students participating in project work in the Moving Image Archive who have an interest in pursuing a film archive career. The Jorgensens’ generous donations also helped fund the Ferguson International Center where they have the Jane and Jay Jorgensen Gallery as well as the Jane and Jay Jorgensen Room. Most recently, Jane endowed a gift that has made possible student internship opportunities to help support anti-racist work at IU. The Jane Jorgensen Diversity Equity and Inclusion Internship offers the opportunity for student placement with senior administrators across IU, exploring issues of racial equity and raising awareness regarding equality for all. Jane also serves as an active member of the IU Fort Wayne Advisory Board.

Jorgensen’s philanthropic impact expands well outside of IU. One of her civic and philanthropic engagements for which she is deeply proud was the opportunity to chair an $8 million capital campaign to fund the Jorgensen Family YMCA in Fort Wayne, IN. Her support has touched so many and she has shown herself to be an ardent advocate and ambassador for IU and her local community.