JANUARY 25 • 2024 | 49
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ARTS&LIFE
ART

A

lan Ross has a home 
space dubbed The 
Maker’s Room, set 
aside for designing and build-
ing furniture with his creative 
touch. The pieces are planned 
to fit into the Metro Detroit res-
idence he shares with his wife, 
Rebecca. 
In that room, he has devel-
oped tables, shelving and 
other pieces. Special effects 
become available from those 
with advanced equipment to 
enhance what he has prepared.
Alan and Rebecca, who deep-
ly enjoy their interest in artistry, 

have established a collection 
they both appreciate and gladly 
add their insights and assistance 
to prestigious art committees, 
such as those at the Detroit 
Institute of Arts (DIA) and 
Cranbrook Academy of Art. 
The couple decided that 
Alan’s alma mater, Michigan 
State University (MSU), could 
use resources to help display 
items in the school’s Eli and 
Edythe Broad Art Museum. In 
2014, they established the Alan 
and Rebecca Ross Exhibition 
Endowment with a $1 million 
gift and, at the end of last year, 

they added a bequest gift of 
$7.5 million.
“Words can hardly convey 
the magnitude and impact 
of this gift and the ways it 
will shape an ever-brighter 
future for the MSU Broad Art 
Museum,
” said Steven Bridges, 
interim director of the muse-
um. 
“Through the bolstering of 
their endowment, the museum’s 
exhibition program will grow 
significantly in the years ahead 
to provide unique, unparalleled 
engagements with art here on 
MSU’s campus.
” 

The Alan and Rebecca Ross 
Education Wing in the museum 
was named to honor the couple, 
who have become acquainted 
with knowledgeable art dealers 
recommending designs to their 
liking.
“I’m active at Michigan 
State University as chair of the 
Advisory Board of the Broad 
Art Museum,
” Alan said. “I 
also have an interest in my 
other school, Babson College in 
Boston. 
“I discuss a program in its 
initial stages at Babson and help 
grow that. Babson is early in the 

Alan and Rebecca Ross’ 
patronage helps grow 
MSU’s Broad Art Museum.
Supporting Art 

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHASE STANTON/MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY 

Alan and Rebecca Ross 
at the MSU Broad Art 
Museum in the exhi-
bition Seeing in 360 
Degrees: The Zaha 
Hadid Design Collection. 

continued on page 50