PITTSBURGH, PA, USA—Carnegie Mellon University alumnus Nam Pyo Suh and his wife, Young Suh, have pledged funds for a new endowed graduate fellowship in mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon.
“We are extremely honored to have such a prominent alum give back to CMU in a way that will benefit future technology leaders,” said Nadine Aubry, the Raymond J. Lane Distinguished Professor and head of Carnegie Mellon’s Mechanical Engineering Department. “At a time when global education and research is so important, it is crucial that we have the support of a prominent alumnus like Suh to help us continue to make technological advances.”
A longtime Carnegie Mellon supporter, Suh received a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from CMU in 1964 and an honorary doctorate in science and technology in 2008. The latter recognized decades of innovative work, including his development of a novel process for production of plastic parts used in factories worldwide. Suh also has paved the way for joint graduate programs and synergies between CMU and KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), where he serves as president.
Innovative and dynamic, Suh accepted a presidential appointment in 1964 to the National Science Foundation (NSF), where he was in charge of engineering. During his NSF tenure, Suh created a new direction for the Engineering Directorate and introduced a new organizational program structure for supporting research to strengthen engineering education and research throughout the U.S. Prior to going to KAIST, Suh was a professor at MIT, where he is currently the Ralph E. and Eloise F. Cross Professor, Emeritus.
“Young and I are honored to give back to Carnegie Mellon, where I received such rigorous graduate education, and we hope that this pledge will inspire other Carnegie Mellon alumni in Korea to give back to their alma mater and participate in CMU’s capital campaign,” Suh said.
Carnegie Mellon has 900 alumni living in Korea and more than 300 Korean graduate and undergraduate students currently enrolled at the university. In November, CMU President Jared L. Cohon and Tepper School of Business Dean Robert M. Dammon addressed more than 200 CMU alumni and parents at a Seoul event. At that event, Jong Woo Kwak, CMU alumni chapter president and Tepper School graduate, spoke eloquently about the need for CMU alumni in Korea to participate in the capital campaign. Donors from outside the United States have contributed $64.2 million of the $1.02 billion that CMU has raised to date as part of its Inspire Innovation Campaign, which ends June 30, 2013.
