An generous alumna’s seven-figure gift honors Tandem Computers, where she spent her career.
A Mary Baldwin University alumna from the Class of 1969 has made a blended seven-figure commitment to support Signature programming, and in doing so has named the Business and Technology Neighborhood. It is now the Tandem Business and Technology Neighborhood — the first of MBU’s four Signature Neighborhoods to be named.
Though the donor has chosen to remain anonymous, the name honors Tandem Computers, Inc., where she spent much of her career, beginning at a time when few women worked in the tech industry at all.
The commitment has two parts. An outright gift provides programmatic funding for the Signature Neighborhoods, directed primarily to Business and Technology. A legacy gift will provide sustained support for the university in the years to come.
The donor has chosen to remain anonymous. The name honors Tandem Computers, Inc., where she spent much of her career.
“Our Signature Neighborhoods exemplify the quality and care of the student experience at Mary Baldwin,” said Mary Harvey, vice president for advancement. “Living and learning cohorts have been a strong tradition at the university for generations, and we are excited that this gift will support the way we continue to provide that tradition in 2026 and beyond. This commitment demonstrates the vital connection between donor passion and direct student impact, and we are so very grateful.”
Living and learning cohorts have been a strong tradition at the university for generations, and we are excited that this gift will support the way we continue to provide that tradition in 2026 and beyond.
Mary Harvey, VP for Advancement
The MB Signature is a priority of Made for All Time, MBU’s multi-year comprehensive campaign. Gifts to the Signature support programming in the Neighborhoods, create support funds for faculty, and provide funding to launch new academic programs and invest in the distinctive programs already central to the university’s mission.
About Tandem
Founded in Cupertino, California, in 1974, Tandem Computers built fault-tolerant computer systems — machines designed to keep running through hardware failures without losing data. That made them the standard for work that could not afford to stop: ATM networks, banks, stock exchanges, telephone switching centers, and 911 dispatch systems.
Tandem remained independent until 1997, when it was acquired by Compaq. Following Hewlett-Packard’s acquisition of Compaq in 2002 and its 2015 split, the Tandem line continues as a server division of Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
Right: the Tandem Computer Nonstop II, one of the company’s flagship products.
About the Neighborhoods
Signature Neighborhoods group MBU’s undergraduate majors into four communities — Business and Technology, Creativity and Culture, Education and Society, and Health and Science. Students live alongside classmates in their first year, take classes together, and share in special lectures, field trips, and academic experiences that bring learning to life. Through the Neighborhoods, students are also connected with a network of faculty mentors and professional and academic advisors.