The Department of Philosophy at Oklahoma State University (OSU) has received a donation of $6.75 million to fund an endowed chair, a scholarship, the teaching of ethics and critical thinking, and a general fund for the department.
The gift is from Dennis Heinzig and his wife, Iona McMillan, who, according to a press release from OSU “have benefited immensely from studying philosophy” and who want “as many Oklahoma State University students as possible to have the same opportunity.” Heinzig was a student in the OSU philosophy MA program in the 1980s.
The gift is the largest ever made to the Department of Philosophy at OSU, and, according to the press release, one of the 10 biggest donations made to any higher education philosophy program.
McMillan said:
We hope our contributions will equip people with critical thinking skills and a deeper ethical understanding that will in time make a meaningful difference in our world. Our intention is to disseminate the benefits of philosophy as broadly as possible, equipping new leaders with the tools and understanding required to grapple with a rapidly changing world.
One thing the department will be doing in light of the donation is creating a new minor: The Art and Science of Critical Thinking.
You can learn more about the gift here.
(via Shannon Spaulding)
