A community of change-makers at NAU

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) includes diverse academic programs living under our umbrella, each threaded together by a shared mission. This unique configuration of programs supports innovative, boundary crossing research and provides distinctive experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. 

NAU Giving Day is a great day to support the next generation of innovators! 

SBS Future Readiness Fund

This fund will support SBS student career and future readiness activities such as career development programs, internships, travel, and any other support needed to assist with the future readiness of SBS students.

SBS Mission
We collaborate in inquiry and practice in order to promote justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, sustainability, and human and community well-being as we build a shared sense of belonging. With student success as our central focus, our work produces critical insights about human societies, behavior, and communication that inform innovative approaches to solve and increase awareness about significant regional and global challenges.

SBS Vision
SBS aspires to be a community of change-makers while supporting the strengths of students, staff, and faculty and collaborating with communities through innovative teaching, scholarships, creative work, public engagement, and practice to further justice, diversity, inclusion, equity, sustainability, and human and community well-being.



Give Early
Empower the Future: College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Challenge
$100,000
Empower the Future: College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Challenge
Maximize your impact on the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and unlock an additional $100,000 in funding for the college. Once 100 gifts are made to any College of Social and Behavioral Sciences funds, we will release a generous $100,000 gift from NAU alumni Mitch and Carrie Ettinger to the Gerald Ladhoff Scholarship and the SBS Future Readiness Fund. Every gift counts—join us in making a difference! #WeAreLumberjacks
18 / 100 Gifts
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Communication is Key: School of Communication Challenge
$5,000
Communication is Key: School of Communication Challenge
This Giving Day, you have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the School of Communication at Northern Arizona University. Jeff Sears, ‘98, a proud NAU alum, has generously pledged to unlock a gift of $5,000 to the Bossler Sears Award for Communications once 10 gifts are made to any School of Communication fund.
2 / 10 Gifts
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Lumberjack Pride: NAU Foundation Board Challenge
$25,000
Lumberjack Pride: NAU Foundation Board Challenge
Join the NAU Foundation board and show your pride with a gift to support this challenge on #NAUGivingDay. The following NAU Foundation Board members have committed to a collective impact totaling $25,000, which will be released when 125 first time donors make a gift. Thank you to: Lisa Bagwell; Eric Baker; Teresa Bartels; Bob Bement; Bob Braudy; Robin Braun; Booker Evans; Victoria Fimea; Bill Heibel; Mary Huntley; Tim Kinney; Any Peña; Rick Rodriguez; Katrina Rogers; Steve Sanghi; Tony Tewelis; and (1) anonymous member. WE Are Lumberjacks!
95 / 125 Gifts
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Unlocking Opportunity: Institute of Human Development Challenge
$25,000
Unlocking Opportunity: Institute of Human Development Challenge
Once 5 gifts are made to the Institute for Human Development Fund, we will release a generous $25,000 challenge gift from Pam and Rudy Ramos to the Mike Baker Fund for Disability Studies. Your support helps shape a future where individuals of all abilities have equal access to education, opportunity, and community. Together, we’re advancing the vision of a more inclusive world.
0 / 5 Gifts
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Patricia Hunter Last Mile Challenge
$26,000
Patricia Hunter Last Mile Challenge
Laurie Mittenthal has created a new fund in memory of her mother and alumna, Patricia Hunter Mittenthal, ’89. The Patricia Hunter Last Mile Fund supports currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students who are members of federally recognized Native American Tribes and may be facing unexpected costs or financial hardship in their final year at NAU. She has pledged to release $26,000 to this fund once we receive 15 gifts to any fund for Native Americans on Giving Day. Thank you to Laurie for providing this challenge!
0 / 15 Gifts
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True Blue: NAU Alumni Association Board
$11,750
True Blue: NAU Alumni Association Board
Help us start off the day with our first milestone and show the Lumberjack community we are True Blue! When we reach 125 alumni gifts of $125 or more on #NAUGivingDay the following NAU Alumni Association Board members will release a collective $11,750 in gifts. Thank you to: Blaise Caudill ’13; Dave Cook; Trina George, ’09; Alex Gutierrez, '85 '90; Jana Harper, ’90; Veronica Hipolito, '97, '02; Jim Jayne, ’91; "Kari" Kent, '91; Rick Koch, ’72; Mary O'Driscoll, ’82; Nancy Serenbetz, '75; Maggie Thom, ’12; , Wayne Watson, ’84; and (3) anonymous members. Go Jacks!
7 / 125 Gifts
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Or you can contact us at givingday@nau.edu.

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