Coastal Carolina University received a $1 million donation to expand and officially title the now named Hetzer Center for Biomedical Sciences.
Chad Leverette, the dean of Gupta College of Science, said that the Hetzer Center is a hub for research innovation.
“It is a place for faculty and students to come together in an interdisciplinary fashion. The center’s purpose is to primarily further research, and its outreach is biomedical science,” Leverette said.
The Hetzer Center, first formed in Aug. 2025, allows students and faculty to conduct research in interdisciplinary fields such as psychology, biochemistry, chemistry, health science and neuroscience. The center consists of over 100 total members with around 20 faculty and their student research staff consisting of three to 15 students each.
Janice and Conrad Hetzer, the family who made the donation said that making a difference in people’s lives is important to them, according to a university press release.
“Having worked in the tourism industry for numerous years, we’ve seen many students with the desire to attend college but without the financial means to do so. It is our hope that this support will have a lasting impact on students, the University, and the broader community,” the Hetzers said.
Executive Director of the Hetzer Center and Professor of biochemistry Paul E. Richardson said the donation will provide support toward student scholarships, in turn allocating more time for research efforts as the Hetzer’s intended.
“There are some students who can’t do research because they have to work,” Richardson said. “So, now, a student gets a scholarship so they can take part in research. It’ll increase the hands-on experiences of many students because it’s going to provide opportunities that might not have been there.”
“Our area, where we work and live, has a lot of people moving here. There’s a lot of need for healthcare,” Leverette said. “Our goal for this center is to further disease research from Alzheimer’s to disease protection. We’re doubling down on helping students become what the world needs next.”
Richardson said the donation will fund the purchase of necessary equipment needed to further research while eliminating the sole reliance on grants.
