With their commitment to name the Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky School of Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis, the Bursky Family Foundation, established by Andrew and Jane Bursky, has made the largest gift in university history. With this transformational commitment, Andrew and Jane Bursky continue their long-term partnership with Washington University and their dedication to improving the health of communities across the region and the world. This commitment from the Bursky Family Foundation will propel the Bursky School of Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis to the forefront of research and education in the field.

A Langsdorf Fellow, Andrew Bursky graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Arts & Sciences, and a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science, both in chemical engineering, from what is now McKelvey School of Engineering. Jane Bursky earned her degree the same year, a Bachelor of Arts in French and education from Arts & Sciences. The two met at WashU while undergraduates.

Andrew Bursky went on to earn an MBA from Harvard University in 1980 and subsequently co-founded Interlaken Capital Inc., a private equity firm. He is managing partner of Atlas Holdings, a Connecticut-based industrial holding company he co-founded in 2002.  Atlas and its affiliates own and operate 30 companies that employ more than 75,000 associates across 1,200 facilities worldwide. Atlas operates in a variety of industrial sectors, and its companies together generate $26 billion in revenues annually.

Longtime champions and ardent supporters of Washington University, the Burskys have made significant contributions to undergraduate students through scholarships, including the establishment of the Spirit of Washington University Scholarship, which provides a lifeline for students facing unexpected financial emergencies that threaten to curtail their education. Additionally, they provided leadership support for both the James E. McLeod Scholarship, and the Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Danforth Scholarship, signature efforts of the university to ensure access to the most promising undergraduate students.

Beyond academic access, they have championed innovative health initiatives at WashU, including funding to support research at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerating critical and rapid-response efforts. In 2016, the couple committed $10 million to WashU Medicine to name the Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs. The center advances pioneering research and accelerates progress in understanding the immune system’s role in combating a wide array of diseases, while expediting the translation of scientific discoveries into improved patient outcomes.

In recognition of his achievements and service, Andrew Bursky was honored by the McKelvey School of Engineering with its Young Alumni Award in 1993 and its Alumni Achievement Award in 2006. In 2008, he received an Alumni Achievement Award from Arts & Sciences.

Andrew Bursky is currently chair of the university’s Board of Trustees, having served in that role since 2022. He previously served as a trustee and member of the Executive Committee and is currently a member of the New York Regional Cabinet; Washington University Investment Management Company board; and co-chair of the With You campaign at WashU. Jane Bursky is an active partner in the family’s philanthropic efforts, and each serves on the board of the Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs.

Andrew and Jane have two children, Stephen Bursky and Jennifer Brauntuch, AB ’06, and six granddaughters.