Parents bolster undergraduate student experience

Janowers fund career development and dialogue training

Janower family
Parents Council members Cindy and AJ Janower are proud parents of daughters, from left to right, Alex, Mikki, and Sammi Janower. They believe that internships and other experiential learning opportunities are key to postgraduate success. (Photo: Rick Bern)

As parents, AJ and Cindy Janower often mention with pride that they are completing their second tour of duty at Washington University in St. Louis. Their eldest daughter, Mikki Janower, BS ’20, thrived during her four years at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts and has built a successful career as a multidisciplinary designer and art director. Their third and youngest daughter, Alex Janower, Arts & Sciences Class of 2027, transferred to WashU ahead of her sophomore year because she was drawn to the welcoming campus culture.

After sending Alex, Mikki, and their middle daughter, Sammi, to college, the Boston-based Janowers have come to appreciate that a meaningful education involves more than just coursework. It also includes a wide range of experiences that prepare students to enter the workforce, such as internships. They recognize that not all students have access to the same financial resources and saw an opportunity to use their philanthropy to bridge that gap.

Participate in the Career Accelerator Challenge

Through their gift, WashU parents AJ and Cindy Janower established the Career Accelerator Challenge to encourage donors to join them in supporting career development and experiential learning opportunities for undergraduates.

Gifts of $5,000 or more to the Student Professional Opportunities Fund, which provides spendable resources for internships and research experiences, will unlock support of up to $500,000 from the Janower family.

To make career development opportunities more accessible to all undergraduate students, the couple recently pledged $500,000 to establish the Janower Family Career Accelerator Fund. Annual payout from the endowment will support preprofessional experiences for students from limited- or middle-income backgrounds through WashU’s Center for Career Engagement.

The Janowers also made an additional $125,000 pledge to fuel the university’s Dialogue Across Difference (DxD) program, which offers courses, workshops, and trainings that teach students how to navigate tough conversations and engage with viewpoints that may challenge their own. Both pledges help advance the university’s efforts to develop future-ready leaders through With You: The WashU Campaign, a fundraising and engagement campaign that launched May 1.

“A truly transformative education extends beyond the classroom,” says Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Anna Gonzalez, better known as “Dr. G.” “When we invest in the student experience, we’re preparing compassionate, capable individuals who are ready to lead and serve in a complex world. The Janowers’ generosity catalyzes this important effort and ensures all students are equipped for success during their time at WashU and throughout their lives.”

Accelerating professional success

Internships are among the many factors that shape where WashU students land after graduation, particularly as hiring managers seek candidates with previous work experience. As managing director at Charlesbank Capital Partners, a private equity investment firm with offices in Boston and New York, AJ Janower understands the role internships play in career placement. His firm hires summer interns at the end of their sophomore years, and he has seen those who succeed land job offers before they even graduate.

“Internships play a crucial role in helping students prepare for life after graduation because they give them the chance to explore what they enjoy and discover where they excel,” AJ says. “These experiences not only strengthen their job prospects but can also have a lasting impact on the trajectory of their lives.”

Many students can afford to accept unpaid positions, but often those from limited- or middle-income backgrounds need to earn a salary to make ends meet. Resources from the Janowers’ fund will create stipends to help offset expenses associated with completing unpaid or low-paying internships. Students will be able to apply for funding through WashU’s Center for Career Engagement, and award amounts will be determined by each recipient’s demonstrated need as well as the cost of living in the city where their position is located.

Increasing stipend support is vitally important, says Gonzalez. In academic year 2024-25, the Center for Career Engagement provided summer stipends to 113 students, with the highest award totaling $3,500. This amount is not on par with peer institutions, nor does it cover the true cost of living in many major cities. “We aim to offer every WashU student an enriching career development experience at least once before graduation, and we must secure further investment to turn this vision into reality,” she says.

“A truly transformative education extends beyond the classroom. When we invest in the student experience, we’re preparing compassionate, capable individuals who are ready to lead and serve in a complex world.”

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Anna Gonzalez

Developing leaders

Another key aspect of preparing students for success beyond WashU involves developing their communication skills, including conflict management, active listening, and respect for multiple perspectives. DxD was first piloted in 2023 as an eight-week undergraduate course. The program has expanded to encompass workshops and trainings that teach students how to engage in productive dialogue with others who share different perspectives.

Support from the Janowers will create a new three-hour DxD training tailored for leaders of student organizations and others who hold campus leadership positions. The training will examine differences between debate, discussion, and dialogue; teach techniques for navigating challenging conversations; and provide opportunities to practice effective communication.

“WashU is committed to developing purpose-driven leaders of character and capability,” Gonzalez says. “The Janowers’ gift will enable us to reach more members of the WashU community and deliver content that resonates with our student leaders in their roles.”

Supporting DxD was an easy decision for the Janowers. The couple value WashU’s commitment to civil discourse and the diversity of thought that exists across campus. They were also drawn to investing in student leaders who are uniquely positioned to contribute to a more engaged and thoughtful campus culture.

“Because we live in a polarized society shaped by global conflicts, we believe students must have a safe space for difficult conversations,” says Cindy Janower, an independent strategy consultant and angel investor in early-stage companies. “This program aligns with our family values. We’re proud to help empower student leaders to engage with their peers, especially those with whom they disagree.”

Future-ready leaders

You can help WashU prepare students for lives of leadership and purpose by investing in With You.

It runs in the family

The Janowers have been engaged and enthusiastic partners of the university since their eldest daughter arrived on campus in fall 2016. The couple joined the Parents Council that year and served on its executive committee from 2019 to 2020. They rejoined the council in 2024 when their youngest daughter began her first semester at WashU.

In 2016, the Janowers made a $100,000 gift to create the Riverbend Student Development Fund for undergraduates in the Sam Fox School. The spendable fund provides stipends to help cover expenses related to career development, such as business attire, studio materials, and travel. The couple also previously supported the Sam Fox School Annual Fund and are members of the Eliot Society, which recognizes donors who contribute $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund.

The Janowers’ ongoing commitment to WashU reflects their appreciation for the university’s progress in expanding access and affordability. At the same time, they recognize that important work remains.

“We are inspired by WashU’s mission to educate the best and brightest minds,” AJ says. “Opening doors to talented students from all backgrounds isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s key to strengthening the university and our world. When potential is limited by resources, everyone loses.”