MSU Receives Largest Gift in History of School of Packaging
Michigan State University’s School of Packaging is entering a major new growth phase following a $47 million commitment from alumni Charles “Chuck” and Jacqueline “Jackie” Frasier that will support facility expansion, graduate education and long-term packaging research initiatives.
According to MSU, the gift is the largest in the history of the School of Packaging and will help fund the next phase of the university’s Packaging 2.0 expansion project. Planned upgrades include expanded laboratories, collaborative research spaces, flexible classrooms and additional room for faculty and graduate researchers.
The School of Packaging, founded in 1952, was the first packaging school in the United States and remains one of the industry’s most influential academic programs. MSU says the expansion project is designed to strengthen research capabilities and support increasing collaboration among industry, government and academic partners focused on packaging innovation and sustainability.
Chuck Frasier, who graduated from the program in 1970, built a career in packaging and logistics before founding multiple companies serving international shipping and crating markets. In the university announcement, Frasier said packaging offered broad career opportunities and described the industry as central to modern manufacturing and commerce.
University leaders said the investment is expected to strengthen MSU’s role in sustainable packaging development, advanced materials research and workforce preparation for the packaging industry. Planned additions include shared research laboratories and expanded teaching environments intended to support more interdisciplinary collaboration.
