“Why I Give” by Y. S. Chi ’83

There’s “Something Special” about Princeton

Student sitting on steps of Clio

Y. S. Chi ’83 says the more he gives to Princeton, the more he receives. If his volunteer record is any indication, the relationship has been extraordinarily fulfilling. Chi is a former University trustee and has worked on behalf of the Alumni Schools Committee, the Council of the Princeton University Community, Annual Giving, Career Services, the Princeton Varsity Club, Capital Giving, the East Asian Studies Advisory Council, the Bridge Year Committee, and more. He also has given generously in support of University priorities.

As a governor of the Asian American Alumni Association of Princeton, he currently is spearheading a fundraising drive to establish an endowment for Asian American studies. Chi, the non-executive chairman of Elsevier and director of corporate affairs for Reed Elsevier, has been elected to serve two terms as president of the International Publishers Association. Here, he discusses his philosophy of giving and his latest volunteer project.

The alumni who provided me with the opportunity to attend Princeton on nearly full financial aid motivated me to give back to the University. At first, I gave mostly of my time. Eventually, I was able to supplement that with financial support and expertise. Once involved with Princeton as a volunteer and supporter, it became obvious to me that I was receiving a great deal from the interactions that I enjoyed with other alumni, faculty, students, and administrators.

I feel as though the more I give, the more I receive. My children observed this while they were growing up and now serve as Princeton volunteers for their class and region, too, especially for Annual Giving and Reunions.

An Evolving Curriculum: Advocating for Asian American Studies

Clearly, the most fulfilling aspect of any investment that a Princeton alumnus makes in the University must come from observing our alma mater grow in its scholarly advancement and global leadership in its fields of engagement: non-profit, business, education, public service, culture, the arts, and so on.

For instance, Princeton has a great reputation in American studies. Many students want to explore more contemporary aspects of this country’s cultural evolution, taking into account its ever-increasing diversity. People of Asian heritage are the fastest growing segment in the United States, according to the latest census, making Asian American studies an important and expanding area of scholarship. Our peer schools have already established modest but meaningful programs in this area, and some of my efforts have been on behalf of encouraging Princeton to offer more courses, and ideally a certificate program, that will allow students to examine the experiences of people of Asian ancestry in America in depth—their history and culture, and politics, as well as other issues such as immigration. There is strong and growing student demand for this area of study, and I hope Princeton will leverage its existing strengths to become a leader in this additional dimension of American culture.

“Changing the world” is not just an aspiration, but a daily motivation and activity for so many Princetonians. There is something special about how Princeton sets a high standard for academic programs and initiatives, requiring that they meet the educational needs of today while being sustainable in the long run. Both short-term funding and long-term commitments are needed to allow Princeton to be both innovative and far-sighted. The University’s 1746 Society is a great embodiment of that thinking. Its members have made planned gifts—by creating trusts or naming Princeton in their wills—that will help to fund the future of our University. I am proud to be a member of that society.