One woman's generosity and vision has resulted in a 12,000 square-foot expansion of the International Center.
Okemos resident and MSU alumna Delia Koo contributed the largest donation to the university by an international alumna and the largest donation ever to the international studies program, according to Charles Webb, MSU vice president for University Development. Koo and the university have decided to keep the donation amount confidential.
The contribution added a new state-of-the-art third-floor wing to the Academic Center of the building, which was named for Koo in 2000.
"Seldom do I ever have a grand plan or design, it was just a gradual idea that came about with the help of many within the community,"Koo said, after a ribbon-cutting ceremony which celebrated the inauguration of the floor on Thursday.
Koo's donation covered the construction and other costs, including equipment, furnishings, operations and maintenance of the new level.
Associate Dean of MSU's International Studies Program, Dawn Pysarchik, said construction for the project began in October 2001 and ended in late March. The addition of the third floor added a 35 percent increase in area to the building.
"We were so cramped in this building," Psyarchik said. "The ability to move some offices up to the new space provides the opportunity to expand new programs and mount new ones." she said.
The third floor now holds offices for the Asian Studies Center, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Canadian Studies Center, Center for European and Russian Studies and Volunteer English Tutoring Program, or VETP. It also consists of conference rooms and a main multipurpose room, Psyarchik said.
Koo began the VETP in 1983, a nonprofit volunteer organization which aims to provide free English lessons for MSU's international students, scholars and friends. Before the new offices were built, Koo said volunteers for the program would conduct lessons wherever a work place could be found.
Dottie Schmidt, director of VETP, said the new facility will help attract volunteers.
"The program has a lot more potential," Schmidt said. "Because of the cutting of English as a second language programs throughout the state, we expect a higher demand for this program in the fall."
Koo was born in China in 1921. She earned a degree at St. John's University in Shanghai, then earned both a master's and doctorate at Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, a branch of Harvard University. She also earned a master's, in mathematics at MSU in 1954 and taught for nearly 20 years at Eastern Michigan University.
Koo's main goal was to elevate the minds' of the international community at MSU.
"This is not really about a legacy," Koo said. "I'd like people to say we're going to MSU because it has the best programs for international students."
