College of Health Sciences Butterfly Fund

STAR Tower

IDEAS, INNOVATION AND IMPACT

Connecting to the theme of the Tower at STAR, the College of Health Science is creating a Butterfly Fund to celebrate the innovation, energy and collaboration of the faculty, staff, students and clinicians.

The Tower at STAR is designed to enhance collisions and collaboration referred to as the butterfly effect from chaos theory. The Tower design reflects the idea that the smallest change or interaction in one location can prompt dramatic change in another. Similarly, the Butterfly Fund exists to support and invest in collisions that generate spontaneous ideas and foster innovation and impact.

Furthermore, the Butterfly Fund celebrates the belief that even a small investment can prompt dramatic changes, making the CHS community stronger and more impactful.

People in a laboratory

SUPPORT TO SPUR GROWTH

Under the direction of the dean of the College of Health Sciences, along with chairs of the departments, the Butterfly Fund exists to seed and support innovative interdisciplinary and translational research, teaching, clinical and community programs through annual awards.

The goal of these awards is to trigger a metamorphosis that will spawn new learning opportunities for students and grow cutting- edge research and collaboration.

For example, the Butterfly Fund will be used for:

• Pilot research projects and/or working groups focused on answering healthcare challenges and designing healthcare solutions

• Equipment and resources needed to help support promising cutting-edge research

• Teaching and training programs to meet the many healthcare workforce demands

• Collaborations with community partners throughout the State of Delaware and surrounding area

• Graduate and undergraduate student recruitment in new research and teaching areas, as well as recruitment of a more diverse student body

• Innovative outreach programs to inform and inspire the next generation of healthcare students

Latest News
  • Thomas Kaminski, professor of kinesiology and applied physiology, stands on a soccer field with goals behind him. He's wearing a blue and white striped shirt and a blue baseball cap and holding a soccer ball at his waist with both hands.

    A career honored

    June 08, 2026 | Written by Amy Cherry
    Thomas Kaminski, professor of kinesiology and applied physiology will be inducted into the the National Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame later this month for his decades of leadership, mentorship and research.
  • Pregnancy stress risks

    June 03, 2026 | Written by Amy Cherry
    A study, led by a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, links pregnancy stress to long-term cardiovascular effects.
  • Honoring outstanding seniors

    May 22, 2026 | Written by Alison Armstrong
    Ellery Bergman Chudnow, a senior honors health behavior science major, is the 2026 recipient of the Emalea Pusey Warner Award from the University of Delaware Alumni Association.
  • CHS Class of 2026 Spotlight: School of Nursing

    May 21, 2026 | Written by Amy Cherry
    We're honoring the Class of 2026 by shining the spotlight on some of the best and brightest graduates from the School of Nursing.
  • CHS Class of 2026 Spotlight: Kinesiology & Applied Physiology

    May 19, 2026 | Written by Amy Cherry
    We're honoring the Class of 2026 by shining the spotlight on some of the best and brightest graduates from the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology.