Fletcher’s Legacy Gift to Enhance Support for Endowed Scholarship

Bucknell University faculty, like Professors Emeriti David and Pauline Fletcher, lived a life dedicated to inspiring curiosity and fostering interdisciplinary learning.

David and Pauline Fletcher were pioneers in interdisciplinary education at Bucknell, co-teaching one of the first courses that integrated their respective subjects — biology and English. Their course, Science and Literature, explored how physics and biology were depicted in literature, encouraging students from all disciplines to engage in higher-level thinking.

Originally from Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and witnessing the injustices of apartheid South Africa, the Fletchers decided to leave the country; their journey eventually led them to Bucknell. A shared love of learning extended into their professional lives at Bucknell, where they both received teaching awards and made significant contributions to their respective departments.

The Fletchers shared the goal of creating a Bucknell scholarship prior to Pauline’s passing in 2020. The Pauline and David Fletcher Scholarship, established by David in memory of his beloved Pauline, supports first-generation students, with a preference for those studying English or biology.

David endowed the scholarship with an outright gift but leveraged this generosity by including the University as a beneficiary of his estate. Consequently, the Pauline and David Fletcher Scholarship will reach even more students due to his thoughtful planning.

In retirement, David continues to promote interdisciplinary education through the Bucknell Institute for Lifelong Learning, emphasizing the importance of questioning and creativity in education. The Fletchers’ legacy at Bucknell lives on through their scholarship and lasting impact on the university community.