The Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs is proud to announce the establishment of the Dr. Roy and Mary Ruth Jumper Fellowship. Created through a generous gift from Steve and Ashley Gallagher, this fellowship honors the enduring legacy of one of the school’s foundational pillars and will provide vital support to graduate students pursuing a Master of International Affairs (MIA).
Roy Jumper was a founding faculty member and leader of the O’Neill School who played a crucial role in building the school, securing state and federal funding, and establishing several successful international exchange programs. The fellowship is being established to honor the couple’s lifetime contributions to public service and international affairs.
“The O’Neill School appreciates the dedication and generosity of Steve and Ashley Gallagher to establish this fellowship,” said Siân Mooney, dean of the O’Neill School. “Roy and Mary Ruth lived lives of service, and they certainly would be honored that their daughter, Ashley, and her husband, Steve, have decided to make an impact for our students in their name through this fellowship. They exemplify the kind of leadership that was foundational to the O’Neill School.”
Hired in July 1972 as an associate professor and director of professional development, Roy Jumper quickly became indispensable to the school’s trajectory. He was promoted to professor and associate dean in 1974 and served in this capacity until 1986. He worked closely with founding Dean Chuck Bonser and President John Ryan to outline both the academic and programmatic vision for the new school. Most notably, he played a key leadership role in building the school’s external programs with federal, state, and local governments.
“My parents spent most of their careers living and working internationally,” Ashley Gallagher said. “My father had a passion for both higher education and international affairs. This fellowship is perfect because it reflects that career, and there is currently a great need for funding in higher education. Steve and I are very hopeful that this fellowship will help students offset the cost of their education.”
Both Steve and Ashley Gallagher are O’Neill alumni. Steve graduated in 1986 with a degree in public finance and economics. He enjoyed a prolific career in public service and academia, serving as an executive director with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and assistant vice chancellor for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography before his retirement in 2023. Ashley earned her Master of Public Affairs degree in 1987 from the O’Neill School and worked for the U.S. Department of Education before becoming administrative director for the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization in Arlington, Virginia.
By establishing the Dr. Roy and Mary Ruth Jumper Fellowship, the Gallaghers are ensuring that Roy and Mary Ruth’s passion for international engagement and professional excellence will carry on through the next generation of global leaders.