Wilkes University has received the largest individual donation in its history to support its College of Arts and Sciences.
The leadership level gift, given by professor emeritus of mathematics Bing K. Wong, PhD, will support the key strategic objectives of the university.
“In 1968, I was appointed professor and chairman of the mathematics department by Dr. Eugene Farley,” said Wong, who served the University in various capacities before retiring in 2004. “Having spent nearly my entire professional life at Wilkes, I hope to leave a legacy at the institution I love.”
In recognition of the gift, the College of Arts and Sciences will be renamed the Bing K. Wong College of Arts and Sciences this fall.
“Dr. Wong’s passion for our institution is demonstrated not only by his decades of service as a faculty member but this significant and generous investment in our future,” said University President Greg Cant, noting the gift’s far-reaching impact. “All Wilkes undergraduate students engage in study within the College of Arts and Sciences and will benefit from this transformative gift, now and for many years to come.”
The College of Arts and Sciences spans the arts, sciences, mathematics, humanities and social sciences and includes over 25 undergraduate majors and two graduate programs. Its innovative programs emphasize academic excellence, scholarship and civic responsibility.
“We are so grateful to Dr. Wong for his generous gift to support our College and its students,” said College of Arts and Sciences Dean Paul Riggs. “We succeed as a college and a university only to the extent that our students go on to lives of purpose and success. This starts with academic excellence and with building a range of skills that students will use for a lifetime. As a former faculty colleague and mentor to generations of Wilkes students, Dr. Wong knows our mission well, and we are especially honored by his generosity.”