James Fabiani, part of three generations of the Fabiani family that have served on
the Trine University Board of Trustees, was named Trine University’s Pillar of Success
during the university’s Touchstone and Homecoming Celebration Dinner on Sept. 27.
Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine University president, presented the award to Fabiani,
founder of the Fabiani & Company government relations firm, following a video presentation
featuring images of Fabiani throughout his lifetime.
The event was held in the Keith E. Busse/Steel Dynamics Inc. Athletic and Recreation
Center.
Reflecting on his family’s 90-year history since his father first started classes
at what was then Tri-State College in 1934, Fabiani said he hopes the family will
continue to be involved for many years to come.
“Our family has had opportunities that we could never have imagined, but for what
Tri-State did for my father and for my mother. They both loved this institution until
the day they died,” he said. “I'm very, very honored to be part of this community,
and I'm honored for this tonight.”
About James Fabiani
James Fabiani’s father, Dr. Dante C. Fabiani, was a 1938 accounting graduate of Tri-State
College. Dante became president of the Crane Company and was the first alumnus to
serve as chair of the university Board of Trustees, a position he held from 1976-1979.
James’s mother Virginia continued to support the university after Dante passed away.
James graduated from Andover Phillips Academy and then from Harvard University, where
he earned a Bachelor of Arts in government and international relations. His experiences
at Harvard included regular meetings with distinguished professor Dr. Henry Kissinger.
He taught American History at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts for nine years, including
three where he served as dean.
By 1979, James was ready for a new experience and a new challenge. Having attended
college during the challenges of the late 1960s, he decided to enter government and
was hired by Congress to be the Minority Staff Director of the House Appropriations
Committee. In addition to the budgets of the departments of Defense, Transportation
and Agriculture, the Committee Staff was responsible for analysis of the budgets and
spending of the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services,
more than $330 billion total.
Three years later he joined Cassidy & Associates, a government relations firm, eventually
becoming Chairman and CEO. During his tenure, Cassidy & Associates grew from three
employees to more than 300 and from less than $1 million to more than $60 million
in annual revenue.
He then founded Fabiani & Company, continuing what has become a 35-year career of
lobbying for universities and medical centers.
He joined the Trine University Board of Trustees in 2001 after being asked by Dr.
Brooks. His daughter Elizabeth Fabiani Rooney joined in 2014.
His tenure on the board has included serving as vice chair from 2008-2012, during
which the university experienced tremendous enrollment and fundraising growth, and
completed and launched several major building projects.
James donated an art collection that graces the walls of the C.W. Sponsel Administration
Center. Fabiani Hall pays tribute to the family’s many contributions and the Fabiani
Theatre inside the Rick L. and Vicki L. James University Center is named in Virginia’s
honor. The family also has established endowed scholarships in Dante’s name and in
the name of Virginia’s mother, Ola Parnham.
As a higher education authorizer, Education One at Trine University understands the importance of providing all public charter school students with equitable access to post-secondary educational opportunities, regardless of socioeconomic background. To address access barriers that exist for marginalized students in these Trine-sponsored charter schools, the authorizing office has teamed up with additional university personnel to intentionally expose Trine charter students to campus and the instant admissions process.
Trine University recognized its 2024 Homecoming court as well as its king and queen during the annual Thunderstruck Pep Rally in the MTI Center on Sept. 27.