University alumnus Thomas Ryder and his wife Darlene have pledged $1.5 million to the Forever LSU Campaign, the University announced in a news release today.The first part of their gift, $500,000, will be used to establish eight endowed professorships within the Manship School of Mass Communication. The second part is in the form of a $1 million life-insurance policy, which will endow a Ph.D fellowship in mass communication when realized.”This truly deserves to be called a leadership gift,” said John Hamilton, dean of the Manship School of Mass Communication, in the release. “Our goal is to maintain national leadership in the study of media and politics. Tom and Darlene are themselves leaders by providing a pair of substantial gifts that support this objective by funding both research and graduate student support.”Thomas Ryder, former The Daily Reveille editor, serves on the Manship School’s Board of Visitors and was inducted into the Manship School’s Hall of Fame in 1987. He worked as chairman and CEO of Reader’s Digest Association from 1998 to 2006.——Contact The Daily Reveille news staff at [email protected]