UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has received a $1 million gift from the parents of a currently enrolled international student, to establish the “President’s Global Experience Fund” endowment. The purpose of the endowment will be to support the Global Penn State initiative to assist the University in providing students and faculty with universal experiences and perspectives and in solving universal problems through partnerships and initiatives that span the world.
“Global engagement for our faculty and students here at Penn State is invaluable yet, due to limited funding, we’ve lagged behind,” said Penn State President Eric Barron. “Private support can ensure that our students and faculty have the resources to take advantage of both existing and emerging opportunities to develop international leaders.”
Penn State is committed to a universal vision, one which confronts the challenges and opportunities offered by an interconnected world and economy. Through the Global Penn State initiative and other programs, the University is sending students, faculty and staff abroad; bringing students and scholars from overseas; and enhancing our international network of teaching, research and service partnerships.
“As parents of a current, international student, we felt compelled to give to Penn State,” said the donors. “Knowing that an international perspective helps students and faculty become more informed citizens, made the decision an easy one for us.”
The issues of the future will be global, and Penn State must prepare students and faculty to lead the way. The next generation of leaders will need to communicate and collaborate with peers and partners around the world. International, educational experience matters in a larger world, and it helps students to become better citizens in an era when our society’s problems are increasingly linked to global forces.
With continued help from friends and partners, Penn State will go on striving to maximize the University’s impact on the world through its commitment to innovation, service and leadership to new communities around the globe, while ensuring that every student has the opportunity to benefit from international experiences.
Penn State's alumni and friends are invaluable partners in fulfilling the University's land-grant mission of education, research and service. Private gifts from alumni and friends enrich the experiences of students both in and out of the classroom; expand the research and teaching capacity of faculty; enhance the University's ability to recruit and retain top students and faculty; and help to ensure that students from every economic background have access to a Penn State education. The University's colleges and campuses are enlisting the support of alumni and friends to advance a range of unit-specific initiatives.
If you are interested in making a donation to further global engagement, contact Ken Hall at globalgiving@psu.edu.