In The Kindness of Strangers, Deni Elliott examines ethically questionable situations that have arisen in response to institutional dependency on external benefactors. Major concerns analyzed include: The increased professionalism of fundraising and of donating, an increased willingness of institutions to cater to the demands of donors, creation of dual roles for faculty, students and staff when they are fundraisers and donors in addition to playing their primary roles in higher education, business-university research partnerships that put business values in conflict of academic values and mission, commercialization of student athletics, and endowment use and investment.

Supplemented by a series of carefully selected articles, The Kindness of Strangers needs to be read by anyone who is concerned by higher education's increasing dependency on corporate and individual donors.

Elliot is a fine scholar and her previous work related to fund-raising in higher education has been outstanding. The Kindness of Strangers is clearly and sensibly blocked out, and hits a lot of issues of great importance. Arguing that the quest for funds has led administrations into practices that betray the trust of alumni and other donors, Elliot writes extremely well and to a considerably large audience. -- David H. Smith, Fredericks Distinguished Visiting Professor of Ethics, DePauw University

Deni Elliott is Poynter Jamison Chair in Media Ethics & Press Policy and Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg.