CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The MIT Center for International Studies was honored on its 50th anniversary with a grant of $10 million from the Starr Foundation. It is the largest ever from a private foundation in support of the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.
The gift for endowment was announced by MIT President Charles M. Vest at a celebratory dinner on May 15 at MIT. Dr. Sadako Ogata, the former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, served as keynote speaker at the dinner.
Vest said, "This is a milestone for the Center and for MIT. The Starr Foundation has been a very generous supporter of CIS in the past. This new commitment is a tremendous and well-deserved vote of confidence in the Center's continued and future contributions to the health and security of our world."
A day-long symposium followed on May 16. Panel discussions covered "Research and the National Interest," "War and Peace in the 21st Century," "Human Rights and Justice," and "Global Education." Fifteen speakers, many of whom had served in national and international advisory capacities, brought experience and vision to the topics.
The Center for International Studies, which includes the Security Studies Program and the MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI), is dedicated to generating the knowledge, skills and leadership necessary to address an increasingly complex international political and economic environment.
