Seventh Residential College: Perelman College Naming Announced

One of Princeton’s two new residential colleges to be built south of Poe Field will be called Perelman College, recognizing the lead gift by the Perelman Family Foundation. The gift was announced by Debra G. Perelman ’96, CEO of Revlon, and her father, Ronald O. Perelman, chairman and CEO of MacAndrews & Forbes Inc. The size of the gift was reported by Bloomberg News to be $65 million. President Eisgruber ’83 said the gift will allow Princeton “to admit more talented students from every sector of society, increasing our capacity to fulfill our mission and make a positive difference in the world.” 

Debra Perelman said the new residential college will help the University meet one of its highest priorities: “to provide diversity on campus, specifically economic diversity, by increasing class size.” Ronald Perelman added that “people of all backgrounds and communities deserve access to the extraordinary education and training offered by Princeton.” A history major, Debra Perelman said she looks back “extremely fondly” at her undergraduate experience, both academically and in service projects “from a community-building perspective.” 

She said family members envision the impact of their gift extending far into the future: “It goes beyond what we can see today.” A previous gift to the University from Ronald Perelman created the Ronald O. Perelman Institute for Judaic Studies.