The UCLA Department of History received a $10 million donation from a foundation based in the United Kingdom ““ the largest donation the department has ever received, officials announced today.
The majority of the donation from the Arcadia Fund, a foundation that gives grants to protect endangered cultures and nature , will financially support history graduate students, said David Myers, the chair of the history department. The remainder of the gift will fund faculty and graduate student research, the department’s public events, and will help increase outreach programs including at K-12 institutions, he added.
“We’re at a very important tension-filled moment of transition in the history of public higher education in this country,” Myers said. “It seems that dependence on the state isn’t working. The Arcadia gift sets us on a new course that will allow for a viable, sustainable and vibrant department.”
The Arcadia Fund has donated to UCLA in the past. The foundation gave $5 million to the UCLA Library in 2009 to continue the digitization of the library and purchase new materials, the Daily Bruin reported earlier.
“We are truly delighted to be able to direct our philanthropy to the first-rate history department at UCLA,” said Anthea Case, the Arcadia Fund’s principal adviser, in a statement. “It is gratifying to know that the brilliant work of the department’s faculty and graduate students will be better supported going forward.”
Compiled by Jillian Beck, Bruin senior staff.