Campus News
April 22nd, 2025
Rob, Barb Michael provide GC naming gifts
Former Trustee, wife name new athletic training center, fitness studio
Rob Michael, above, and wife Barb have made two naming gifts as part of the Garrett College Foundation's 700 Building renovation campaign.
Rob Michael already has his name on a Garrett College facility.
This time, it'll be legit.
Michael – who admits to having written his name near the stage steps of the old auditorium when he was a Garrett College student – and wife Barb have provided two naming gifts for the College's 700 Building renovation. Their gifts will name the Dr. Stephen J. Herman Athletic Training Center and the Dr. George R. Dailey Fitness Studio as the College expands its intercollegiate athletics footprint.
Dr. Herman served nearly 20 years as Garrett College's president while Dr. Dailey was a faculty member who made a great impression on Michael when he was a GC student.
"I love the College. It propelled me into what I am and what I have," said Michael, who owned a State Farm Insurance office for 45 years before retiring in 2020.
Michael hopes the gifts will have a multiplying effect as the Garrett College Foundation assists the College in raising the final $500,000 of the $4 million renovation.
"Maybe this will wake up some other alumni," said Michael, who was the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award winner and also served on the College's Board of Trustees. "I know people who have the money and went to school there who can make donations."
"It's inspiring that Rob, as a member of the College's first graduating class, makes this gift with Barb to help those students coming after him," said Cherie Krug, executive director of the Garrett College Foundation.
"I appreciate Rob and Barb's ongoing support of Garrett College, and especially their interest in the success of the Lakers' athletic program," said Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett
College's president. "These gifts will assist the College in supporting our growing intercollegiate athletic program."
Michael said financial support from the Browning Family – his employers at Oakland's Foodland – helped make attending Garrett College possible. He said the supportive environment created by the College's faculty and staff also played a key role in his success.
"Every teacher there cared – and it's still like that today," said Michael, who served as student body president during his time at the College.
The 700 Building renovation – scheduled to start in late spring – will provide locker rooms and coaches offices for the College's four outdoor teams (women's and men's soccer, baseball, and softball). The two spaces Michael is naming provide athletic trainer space to treat injuries and a fitness studio where injured athletes can rehab.
A wrestling room for the Lakers' wrestling team – which sent nine wrestlers to the national tournament this year – is also included in the renovation plans.
The project also includes building a radiologic technology lab and an art suite, which will replace the art suite displaced in the renovation.
Midcap said the athletics facilities expansion will support a student athlete population that's grown from 70 in the 2020-21 academic year to 172 this academic year.
"Five years ago, we intentionally set out to grow our student athlete base," said Midcap. "The primary reason was financial – we needed to expand tuition, fees, and residence hall revenue generated by out-of-county and out-of-state student athletes.
"The second reason was that student athletes tend to be among our highest-achieving students in the classroom – and having more of them creates a richer community environment," continued Midcap.
GC added wrestling in 2018 and women's soccer in 2023. Women's softball returns this spring as a club sport, with the intention of moving to varsity status in 2026, and men's soccer launches this fall.
Those sports have joined baseball, men's and women's basketball, and women's volleyball in what has become an eight-sport intercollegiate athletic program.
Midcap encouraged other Garrett College alumni to consider being part of the athletic annex's capital campaign.
"We are hoping Rob's example will lead to other former students helping to fund the last piece of this project," said Midcap, noting potential donors can contact the Garrett College Foundation Office at 301.387.3100.
