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Renee (left) and Meyer Luskin. | Photo by Reed Hutchinson/UCLA
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The UCLA College Division of Social Sciences has received a $25 million donation from Meyer Luskin and his wife Renee to support faculty, students, and public-oriented programs in the history department. This gift, announced on Tuesday, represents the largest single donation ever made to both the history department and the College Division of Social Sciences at UCLA.
Meyer Luskin, a prominent business leader in Southern California, and his wife Renee are esteemed UCLA alumni and longstanding benefactors, according to the university. “Meyer and Renee Luskin are cherished members of our Bruin family who have long helped UCLA live up to its highest ideals, changing countless lives through their generosity and leadership,” said UCLA Chancellor Gene Block. “This visionary gift speaks volumes about their dedication to our academic community and their recognition that both UCLA students and the general public benefit greatly from a rich understanding of history.”
In addition to bolstering resources for students and staff, the donation will support the expansion of the department’s many public-facing centers and programs. These include the Luskin Center for History and Policy, the Public History Initiative, the “Why History Matters” series and the new “Making History in Los Angeles” program, which will be housed at UCLA Downtown, enhancing the department’s presence in the city and region.
“We believe the study of history is vital in creating informed participants in a vibrant democratic society,” stated Meyer Luskin. “This gift will ensure that students and faculty have ample resources and opportunities to study the past, which will allow them to further understanding of the present in service to the public good.”
The 2017 establishment of the UCLA Luskin Center for History and Policy was facilitated by a previous $5 million donation from the Luskins. David N. Myers, who holds the Sady and Ludwig Kahn Professorship of Jewish History, leads this center. The recent $25 million contribution will build upon such initiatives.
Regarding the latest contribution, Renee Luskin emphasized the importance of historical knowledge in contemporary society. “To understand and nurture the values that lay at the foundation of our democracy, it is essential to mine the past as a guide to a better future,” she stated. “Such knowledge can aid in solving some of our world’s biggest challenges.”
The department’s dean, Abel Valenzuela, echoed this sentiment, underscoring the transformative impact of the Luskins’ generosity. “This transformative gift will allow the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Department of History to stand at the cutting edge, globally and nationally, of research and teaching,” Valenzuela said. “The Luskins’ remarkable act of generosity signals a new era of distinction for the study of history at UCLA and for the division of social sciences at large.”
In addition to their financial contributions, Meyer Luskin serves on the UCLA Second Century Council and has been involved with the Centennial Campaign executive committee and The UCLA Foundation board of directors. Renee Luskin’s service includes roles on the advisory board of the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and the executive producer council for UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance.
