UW center to focus on world problems

Friday, May 3, 2002

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF

The University of Washington is forming a new center that it hopes will provide connections to struggling regions around the world, including forming new partnerships with international relief and development organizations and sending more students to study and work overseas.

The Marc Lindenberg Center for Humanitarian Action, International Development, and Global Citizenship is being named in honor of the dean of the university's Evans School of Public Affairs.

"There's nothing quite like this, to our knowledge, in other universities in this country, and it could represent a new model in higher education for interdisciplinary teaching and learning about some of the challenging issues that are faced around the world today," Elaine Chang, assistant dean of the Evans School, said yesterday.

The new center, which is housed in the Evans School and will begin in stages this year, aims to provide new partnerships with relief and development groups, more overseas study opportunities, partnerships with K-12 schools and development of interdisciplinary curricula.

Lindenberg, who is suffering from inoperable lung cancer, is a former senior vice president for CARE USA, an international humanitarian aid organization.

His contributions have been as diverse as managing relief efforts in countries such as Bosnia and Rwanda and helping the newly elected leaders of some Latin American countries plan their transitions.

He's known for both his public service and his academic career, which includes a stint at Harvard University.

"Marc Lindenberg has touched the lives of so many people throughout his career," Chang said. "He's touched the lives of all his students; he's been an inspiration to faculty both within the Evans School as well as elsewhere."

Lindenberg wasn't available for comment, but said in a statement that he hopes the new center will carry forward "projects that involve students and faculty in studying and working on problems that increasingly cross boundaries, including poverty and pollution."

UW will formally announce the center today and kick off a $5 million fund-raising drive. It's expected to operate with a mix of university dollars and private donations.

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