During the Campaign for Boston University, Frederick S. Pardee (Questrom’54, ’54, Hon.’06) donated $50 million to endow the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and advance the next generation of global leaders. Prior to the fundraising effort, he donated almost $15 million, making him one of the University’s staunchest supporters.
Pardee says his passion and determination to help build a more just and peaceful society was born when he was a child during World War II. He was able to attend BU on scholarship and says that opportunity became a driving force in his desire to better the world.
Today, the Pardee School has over 800 undergraduate students, 150 graduate students, five undergraduate majors, six graduate degrees, more than 40 full-time faculty, and another 150 affiliated faculty from across the University. A major reflection of the school’s commitment to global studies can be seen in its six affiliated centers and institutes: the Center for the Study of Asia; Center for the Study of Europe; Center for Latin American Studies; African Studies Center; Institute on Culture, Religion & World Affairs (CURA); and Global Development Policy Center.
“Very few universities can invest in having a separate school of international affairs—it is a mark of a major university. That’s one transformation right there.”– Dean Adil Najam
“Having a school of international and global affairs is not a common thing,” says Pardee School Dean Adil Najam. “Very few universities can invest in having a separate school of international affairs—it is a mark of a major university. That’s one transformation right there. This gift allows us to do things we could not have imagined doing; to aspire to become a leading institution in our field.”