Congressman Brian Higgins visited the college’s Amherst campus Friday to discuss Daemen’s Todd & Leslie Shatkin Institute for Mobility, Innovation, and Technology (IMIT).
President Olson and Congressman Higgins
Scheduled to open in summer 2022, the venture will provide sophisticated technology and treatment to those who have experienced loss of physical mobility due to trauma, disease, or injury.
To date, more than $1.8 million has been raised for the facility. In June, the project received a $740,000 gift from The Dr. Todd & Leslie Shatkin Philanthropic Fund.
“Congressman Higgins has long been focused on building infrastructure in his district and providing services to his constituents that also further develop our region,” said Michael Brogan, dean of the college and senior vice president of academic affairs. “IMIT is a project that certainly fits this commitment.”
Briefing the congressman on the college’s efforts to build support for the project among the various communities the facility will serve was Daemen President Gary Olson; Brogan; Laura Edsberg, director of the Natural and Health Sciences Research Center and a professor of biology at Daemen; Robin King, director of academic grants and sponsored programs at the college; and Lisa Damiani, president of Tola Strategies & Management.
“We were honored to host Congressman Higgins and were pleased to hear his excitement about IMIT and its ambitious future,” said Brogan. “We look forward to working together on the development of this initiative that will bring regional, national, and international attention to our community.”