has received a $4 million donation to fund graduate scholarships, university officials announced Thursday.
The contribution came from Jerome and Miriam Katzin, frequent donors to the university and area Jewish organizations. Jerome Katzin is a retired investment banker, former chairman of the UCSD Foundation and a director of Qualcomm.
Their gift creates the Katzin Prize Endowment Fund to financially support graduate students studying for doctoral degrees in any discipline who demonstrate talent and promise.
We know that in order to stay competitive, the campus must increase its endowment, notably in areas that will attract excellent faculty and students,” Jerome Katzin said. “The best doctoral students attract the best faculty, underscoring the need to increase the number of graduate students attending UC San Diego and assuring the quality of those students.”
A statement from the university said expanding the graduate student population is a “strategic priority” because they fuel the regional research economy; train the next generation of researchers, teachers, innovators and leaders; and enhance the university's impact and reputation.
Graduate students compose more than 19 percent of the student body at the La Jolla campus, while the portion at competing institutions can be 30-40 percent, according to UCSD.
Previous donations from the Katzins have led to the Katzin Research Laboratories at the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, the Katzin Chair in Jewish Civilization, the courtyard at Muir College, and the Chair in Corporate Governance at the Rady School of Management.
They also helped fund the construction of the Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center.
–City News Service
