Alumni Remember Son Through Philanthropy
March 5, 2026
A gift from two Fisher alumni has established a fund to support mental health and wellness for Fisher students. Through the generosity of Gary ’79 and Cheri ’94 Copie, The Jordan Michael Copie Wellness Fund has been established in memory of their son. The funding has provided assistance and support to mental health initiatives on campus that have benefited students, faculty, and staff alike.
According to Becky Kieffer ’96, director of the Health and Wellness Center, the gift has enabled the expansion of the QPR Suicide Prevention Training and Trauma Response available to all members of the campus community. The QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) online platform is a 60-minute evidence-based training designed to equip students, faculty, and staff with the skills to recognize and intervene during a mental health crisis. The initial phase of the training prioritized those in high-visibility, front-line roles. As a result, more than 80 members of the community completed the certification, including all residential life staff and members of the Office of Safety and Security.
The gift also ensured that phase two of the QPR training could be expanded to academic advisors, athletic staff, and student leaders. Finally, the fund afforded the Health and Wellness Center the ability to re-establish its partnership with Coordinated Care Services Incorporated (CCSI) to expand the trauma response team training in an effort to strengthen the internal capacity to manage complex emotional crises that may arise.
“We are grateful to the Copie family for their generosity in honoring their beloved son. Their gift has strengthened essential mental health resources on our campus. Because any one of us may encounter someone in crisis, QPR and the related CCSI trainings help ensure our community is better prepared and equipped to respond offering support those in need,” said Kieffer.