Michael Joel-Hansen
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
A pair of University of Saskatchewan alumni are making a historic donation to recognize what they call “the leadership and dedicated service” of outgoing president Peter Stoicheff.
Xiaoping (Bob) Xu and Ling (Linda) Chen have gifted the university $10 million to support the School for the Arts in the university’s College of Arts and Sciences, the school announced. The donation will help pay for curriculum modernization, theatre expansion and student supports.
Chen and Xu said that along with recognizing the outgoing president, the pair wanted to give back to the institution.
“In profound appreciation for your leadership and dedicated service to our alma mater, and with deep gratitude for the education that transformed our lives, Linda and I are delighted to commit $10 million to the university,” the two wrote in a letter.
The donation will also support the David L. Kaplan Chair in Music. Xu and Chen previously donated $2 million to help create the chair position in 2017, and another $1 million to support the establishment of the David L. Kaplan Music Scholarship in 2010.
The scholarship and chair position are in memory of the late professor emeritus David L. Kaplan, a musician and composer who spent more than 40 years at the U of S. He died in 2015.
Stoicheff, who served as dean for the College of Arts before becoming the university’s president, said the financial contribution from the two alumni will make a real impact.
“This is a transformational gift for the School for the Arts, and I am inspired by Bob and Linda’s commitment to creating educational opportunities for everyone through their extraordinary philanthropy,” he said.
Stoicheff added he was “humbled and honoured” by the donation. He will be officially leaving the president’s office on Dec. 31.
In 2017, Xu was bestowed an honuorary degree by the U of S. He graduated from the university in 1992 with a masters degree in music and went on to establish New Oriental Education and Technology Group, which provides private education in China.
Xu also established ZhenFund, a venture capital firm.
