Jay Chaudhry, an Indian-American tech entrepreneur and CEO of the cloud security firm Zscaler, along with his wife, Jyothi Chaudhry, has made a transformative pledge of $4 million to the University of Cincinnati. The donation will create the Chaudhry Family Scholarship Fund, designed to assist first-generation, Pell-eligible students living in the Gen-1 1MPACT House, a distinctive living-learning community. Beginning in fall 2025, the fund aims to provide scholarships for approximately 150 students, covering financial shortfalls after federal grants and other aid received, according to the university’s statement.
University of Cincinnati president Neville G. Pinto lauded the Chaudhrys for their generosity, describing the donation as life-changing. “I’m truly grateful that Jay and Jyothi are dedicated partners in our ongoing commitment to first-generation students,” he remarked.
Jay Chaudhry, CEO and Founder of Zscaler, is a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader with over 25 years of experience in the cybersecurity industry. Having held key roles at renowned organizations such as IBM, NCR, and Unisys, he has established himself as a prominent figure in the field. Zscaler, the company he founded, provides a cutting-edge security-as-a-service (SaaS) platform designed to enhance digital security for businesses worldwide.
Reflecting on their own journey, he and his wife expressed deep gratitude for the opportunities they received at the university. “We are very grateful for the excellent education we got at UC, which played a significant role in our success. In fact, both of us got tuition scholarships for our graduate studies, without which we couldn’t afford to get our master’s degrees,” they said.
Jay and Jyothi Chaudhry
Jay Chaudhry holds two master’s degrees in science from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Engineering and Applied Science—one in electrical and computer engineering (1982) and another in industrial engineering and management (1983). He later earned an MBA from the same institution in 1986, while Jyothi completed her MBA in 1987.
“This scholarship fund is a gesture of our gratitude and appreciation to our alma mater that will help many needy students to complete their college education and change their and their families’ lives,” the couple added.
Suzette Combs, director of the Gen-1 Program, highlighted the profound impact of the Chaudhrys’ donation. “This gift lets them know that there are people out there who believe in them and think they belong here,” she said. “There’s very little that can take the place of that, and it is empowering for our students.”
The Gen-1 Program, launched in 2008, stands out as the nation’s first residential initiative designed to support first-generation college students. With a comprehensive focus on academic, personal, and social support, the program boasts a remarkable first-to-second-year retention rate of 98 percent, significantly higher than the national average of 68 percent for first-generation students.
Learn about a previous philanthropic initiative by Jay Chaudhuri here.
