Ibn Sina Global Foundation Gift Supports Humanities Programs and Initiatives
The Ibn Sina Global Foundation, a British philanthropic foundation, has made a gift to the School of Arts & Sciences to support various humanities initiatives critical to the School’s key priorities, including funding for research, scholarship, and programming in the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business, Penn World Scholars, Islamic Studies, and the Marks Family Writing Center. The gift also provides support to the College Dean’s Innovation Fund.
“This gift from The Ibn Sina Global Foundation will have a lasting impact on a wide range of humanities programs,” said Steven J. Fluharty, Dean and Thomas S. Gates, Jr. Professor of Psychology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience. “This type of support has a ripple effect that benefits future scholars from diverse pathways of study.”
“It is a privilege for both of us to play a small part in pushing forward Penn’s mission to invest in the area of humanities. It is also gratifying to know that a portion of our gift will help prepare students from modest economic backgrounds for a complex future that clearly requires cultural awareness in both for-profit and non-profit settings,” said Sufia Ansari and Javed Khan, ENG’91, W’91, Founding Trustees of The Ibn Sina Global Foundation. “We are also delighted to support initiatives that foster core writing and critical thinking skills—both hallmarks of a great humanities education.”
The gift provides scholarship support and funds for various learning opportunities in the Huntsman Program, a coordinated dual-degree program focused on language, the liberal arts, and business, and fosters the development of ethical leadership skills.
“The funds from The Ibn Sina Global Foundation will help us enhance and expand student activities that promote a deeper understanding of the Middle East region and its extremely important role in the world,” said Rudra Sil, School of Arts & Sciences Faculty Director for the Huntsman Program and Professor of Political Science. “These activities can encompass further research, internships, and language training, as well as immersive experiences focused on the region.”
“The Huntsman Program is grateful for The Ibn Sina Global Foundation’s transformative gift, supporting Huntsman students’ educational experiences as they deepen their understanding of global business and policy issues, particularly those related to the Middle East,” said Harbir Singh, Wharton School Faculty Director for the Huntsman Program and Professor of Management. “Looking ahead, students will seek to find solutions to the most challenging problems using a multi-disciplinary approach that truly leverages the business, liberal arts, and cultural elements of their curriculum.”
In addition, the gift creates an endowed scholarship fund for Penn World Scholars, a four-year program that provides students with the necessary skills to become global leaders throughout their lives and connects them with international alumni, Penn leaders, and distinguished visitors.
“Undergraduate financial aid for initiatives like the Penn World Scholars program is critical to the University’s mission,” said Ezekiel Emanuel, Vice Provost for Global Initiatives. “Such support allows Penn to attract the best and brightest students from around the world and provide enriching, impactful experiences that extend well beyond the classroom. Support from The Ibn Sina Global Foundation is foundational to the development of Penn World Scholars as future global leaders.”
The gift also supports students whose research is focused on Islamic thought and civilization, including student travel, research and language study, and student-related events and activities.
“The Ibn Sina Islamic Studies Student Support Fund provides invaluable support and encouragement for undergraduate as well as graduate students studying topics related to the Islamic world,” said Jamal J. Elias, Director of the Wolf Humanities Center, Director of the Penn Forum for Global Islamic Studies, and Walter H. Annenberg Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Religious Studies. “In addition to providing two prizes for outstanding research papers, The Ibn Sina Fund assists students in essential academic activities, such as traveling for research and intensive language programs, giving their own papers at conferences, and organizing student-led symposia at Penn.”
In addition, the gift will establish a writing internship fund for the Marks Family Writing Center, which provides writing support to Penn students and faculty across the disciplines. The Center presents writing workshops across campus, consults with faculty and assists them with designing and responding to writing assignments, and engages in community outreach.
“We are grateful to The Ibn Sina Global Foundation for providing this transformative opportunity to students who are otherwise unable to pursue unpaid internships due to financial constraints,” said Valerie Ross, Marks Family Senior Director of the Marks Family Center for Excellence in Writing. “Research has shown that internships help to level the playing field for minoritized students, enhancing their sense of belonging and academic outcomes, and leading to increased employment opportunities after graduation. We are especially delighted that this gift will provide our students with the chance to share and advance their writing skills in real-world settings, including nonprofits that often cannot afford to offer paid internships.”
