The Pugliese-Meersman Legacy Endowment in Theatre, established in 2003, honors the memory of two legendary theatre professors: Rudy Pugliese and Roger Meersman. During their tenure, they created a renowned Department of Theatre that would later become the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies. The Pugliese-Meersman Legacy Endowment supports a range of programs, including visiting scholars, artists-in-residences, master class series, and other initiatives to enhance learning opportunities for students in the performing arts