Gift from Lee Backus ’62 and Cicily Backus supports graduate students at the Warner School

(Initially published September 2, 2026, by URochester Advancement as part of the For Ever Better Campaign.)

The couple’s generosity establishes a scholarship fund and a matching challenge that could lead to $2 million in financial aid for future graduate students.

As part of For Ever Better: The Campaign for the University of Rochester, community advocates Lee Backus ’62 and Cicily Backus have made a $1 million gift to strengthen financial aid for graduate students at the Warner School. Through a combination of endowed scholarship support and a matching challenge fund, their generosity has the potential to generate up to $2 million in financial aid for future graduate students.

The gift establishes the Lee & Cicily Backus For Ever Better Scholarship to expand access to graduate education in teaching and counseling. It also launches the Lee & Cicily Backus Scholarship Challenge Fund, a matching initiative designed to inspire additional donor support for students pursuing advanced degrees in teaching.

“We wanted to ease the cost burden for graduate students pursuing a high-quality education, and we care deeply about supporting those facing challenging circumstances,” says Lee Backus, who credits his URochester education with guiding his career path. “This gift is a way to make graduate education more attainable for Warner students, so they do not have to rely as heavily on loans.”

“We are grateful to Lee and Cicily for their partnership and commitment to accessibility and affordability,” says Melissa Sturge-Apple, dean of the Warner School. “Their gift will help more students become skilled and compassionate educators and counselors—professionals who will influence countless lives over the course of their careers.”

Investing in future educators

The couple’s generosity comes at a critical moment, as demand grows for highly trained educators, even as rising graduate education costs and loan parameters shape who can enter—and remain in—the field. By easing financial pressure, their gift will strengthen the pipeline of skilled educators and help address the ongoing teacher shortage nationwide. The need is especially acute in New York. According to Governor Kathy Hochul’s office, the state is facing a steep retirement cliff and is expected to need an estimated 180,000 new teachers by 2030 to meet workforce demands.

“This is a critical time to support graduate education,” says Cicily Backus. “For us, this is about investing in future teachers and counselors—people who will go on to support their students in meaningful ways. We believe education should be within reach for everyone, and that it plays a real role in addressing income inequality and expanding what’s possible.”

The couple’s philanthropy represents Warner’s largest scholarship commitment of the For Ever Better campaign to date. The gift aligns with the University’s Boundless Possibility strategic plan by expanding access to higher education and preparing students to lead in a rapidly changing world. It also advances the For Ever Better campaign’s emphasis on increasing financial aid and expanding opportunity for students from a wide range of backgrounds.

Adds Sturge-Apple, “The impact of supporting one teacher or counselor extends exponentially through the many students and communities they will serve. Through their generosity, the Backuses are helping create conditions for others to learn, grow, and thrive.”

Many Warner graduate students balance coursework with internships, research, and professional responsibilities. Scholarship support helps students stay enrolled, fully engage in their training, and successfully enter the profession. The support is especially meaningful for career changers who aspire to become educators and counselors but face the financial challenge of leaving established careers in education and stepping away from a salary to pursue graduate studies.

About Lee and Cicily Backus

Lee Backus built a successful career in finance, becoming a portfolio manager and partner at Buckingham Capital Management. Later in his career, he became actively involved in advisory and nonprofit work, with a focus on education. He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at URochester and an MBA from Harvard. Cicily Backus is deeply engaged in civic and nonprofit initiatives, sharing a longstanding commitment to community impact.

Together, they are active volunteer leaders at the University, serving on Warner’s National Council and its Center for Urban Education Success Advisory Council. They are also members of the George Eastman Circle.

In addition to this gift, the Backuses have established an undergraduate scholarship, funded pre-college programs for underserved high school students, and supported literacy initiatives like Warner’s ROC Reading Partners, which they helped launch. Through their philanthropy, the couple seeks to broaden access to opportunity and invest in the communities that have long shaped their lives.