Harvard’s Economics Department has received robust support from alumni dating back 40 years, all dedicated to advancing the department’s vision for a new era in economics education and research. Notable contributions from alumni, including Joseph T. Tsai and Don Smith, will facilitate the development of Pritzker Hall, the future home of the department, alongside establishing two new professorships.
Hopi Hoekstra, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, expressed gratitude, stating, “The collective generosity of these alumni is powering a transformative vision… firmly establishing the critical intellectual role Harvard’s economics program will play in developing the future of the field.”
For over a century, the Economics Department has been at the forefront of addressing pressing global issues through rigorous scholarship. It continually produces innovative policies and educates nearly 500 undergraduate and 200 graduate students annually, with faculty earning prestigious accolades, including a recent Nobel Prize awarded to Claudia Goldin.
The funding will help realise a vision initiated by Penny Pritzker and Bryan Traubert to create Pritzker Hall, merging research and teaching in a single, collaborative environment. Ed Glaeser, a prominent professor, hopes this space will stimulate interactions among students and faculty, inspiring transformative ideas.
The Tsai family, led by brothers Joe, Jeff, and Jason, has dedicated a space in the hall to their father, Hong-Tu Tsai, to host events and foster academic collaboration. Joe Tsai said they were driven to support Harvard’s vision, aiming to create rich intellectual opportunities for future generations of students.
Separate significant gifts from the Slusky family and Don Smith will fund new professorships aimed at responding to the evolving needs within economics. The Slusky Family Professorship, inspired by Alexander Slusky’s own educational experiences, will focus on real-world applications of economics, while Smith’s contribution is aimed at enhancing expertise in environmental economics.
Smith shared his passion, articulating a desire to help discover outstanding scholars in environmental economics, aiming for meaningful contributions to the field as he reflects on his own rich ties to Harvard’s Economics Department.
Alumni donations are boosting Harvard’s Economics Department, supporting the upcoming Pritzker Hall and establishing new professorships. This initiative aims to elevate economics education and research. Key contributors express their desire to foster future leaders and innovative ideas in the field.
The infusion of donations from alumni into Harvard’s Economics Department signifies a pivotal shift towards innovative education and impactful research. With the construction of Pritzker Hall and new endowed professorships, these contributions forge paths for future economists and policymakers. This collaborative spirit promises to advance not only the department’s legacy but also its critical influence on global challenges moving forward.
Original Source: news.harvard.edu
