University of New Haven Announces $1.1 Million Gift to Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts

The donation was made through the estate of Diana Atwood Johnson, a longtime benefactor and visionary leader who was instrumental in the development of Lyme and who was the driving force in Lyme becoming the University of New Haven’s fifth college.

May 14, 2018

The University of New Haven announced today that Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, one of the University's six colleges, has received a $1.1 million gift from the estate of Diana Atwood Johnson, a longtime benefactor.

The gift will support three initiatives:

• The Sill House, a historic building encompassing studio space, the Lyme archives, and the Sill House Gallery, will receive $500,000.
• An additional $500,000 will go toward scholarships that benefit minority students.
• The remaining $100,000 will support the Diana Atwood Johnson Leadership Award, presented annually to a senior at Lyme who shows great promise and exemplifies the values of the institution.

Atwood Johnson, who died in January, served on Lyme's Board of Trustees. As chair, she was the driving force in helping Lyme earn its initial accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and she played a key role in initiating the affiliation that made Lyme the University of New Haven's fifth college.

"Diana leaves a legacy that will remain a strong part of this institution in perpetuity." Todd Jokl, dean of Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts

"Diana Atwood Johnson was a pillar in our community and involved in every element of Lyme over the past three decades. Her generosity over those decades in both her leadership and her generous financial contributions will enable us to provide support for our diverse student body, attract the strongest art students to Lyme, and continue to support our campus buildings," said Todd Jokl.

In addition to this donation, Lyme has received nearly $3 million in gifts in the past five months as part of its capital campaign.