A Kansas University professor emerita has committed more than $1 million for KU’s school of social welfare, KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway announced Thursday.

Norge Winifred Jerome, of Shawnee, who is a KU professor emerita of preventive medicine and public health, set up the gift through her estate plans.

Upon her death, the $1 million will be used to establish the Norge Winifred Jerome Public Scholar/Faculty Program Fund at the KU Endowment Association.

“A groundbreaking researcher in the field of nutrition, Dr. Jerome has been a part of the University of Kansas community for more than 30 years,” Hemenway said. “We are delighted that, in addition to her many years of teaching and research, she has chosen to provide such generous support for the school of social welfare.”

To meet the goals of the program, the recipients will collaborate with communities of color to improve their quality of life.

Jerome also pledged $30,000 over the next three years to set up the Norge Winifred Jerome Doctoral Public Scholar Program Fund. It will provide annual support for an outstanding student seeking a doctoral degree in social welfare.

Graciela Couchonnal, an Overland Park social welfare doctoral candidate researching grass-roots leadership by women, has been named as the first Jerome scholar.