MARSHALL (KMHL) – Southwest Minnesota State University has received a major commitment to create new tutoring and mentoring programs to support students at the university.

SMSU announced, Tuesday, that Alumna Deeann J. Griebel has committed to provide $1.8 million for the Student Success and Advising Center scholarships at SMSU.

In a press release, the university said the Student Success and Advising Center will be renamed the Deann Griebel Student Success Center to recognize Griebel’s commitment to SMSU.

“We are grateful for Deann’s investment in our students and the trust she has placed in our faculty and staff with this gift,” said SMSU President Kumara Jayasuriya. “Deann’s gift will have an immediate impact on student success programs and provide long-term support through a planned estate gift.”

Griebel, a Pipestone native, is currently the Managing Director of Investments for Moors & Cabot, Inc. in Mesa, Arizona. She earned an Accounting Degree from SMSU in 1980. She has had a decorated career as a financial advisor and is a six-time selection to the Barron’s Top 100 Women Financial Advisor list since 2007.

The Center is located in the Individualized Learning Center at SMSU, where it provides an atmosphere of inclusion and support while helping students achieve academic success and professional growth.

“Over the last 40 years. I’ve come to realize that teaching actually helps the teacher understand a subject at a deeper level,” said Griebel. “Having students teach other students will help both students so this seems like a wonderful ‘two for one’ project for me to support!”

Griebel credits much of her career success to her time at SMSU, so she says to help the next generation of students from the university seemed logical. She said it’s an honor to support the initiative.