Beginning in 2008, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Tacoma will host a lecture series featuring prominent speakers on the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Tacoma campus, thanks to a $1 million pledge by Arthur R. Paulsen, a native Tacoman and ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø alumnus.
The gift will create an endowed fund, called the Arthur R. and Anna Mae Paulsen Visiting Chair in Public Affairs, to support bringing well-known public figures to campus each year to enhance the intellectual life of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Tacoma students and the South Sound community. Visiting lecturers will address a range of political and social issues.
“This generous donation will help us bring distinguished lecturers to our campus and expand what we can offer to our students and the community,” Chancellor Pat Spakes said. “We were surprised and delighted when Mr. Paulsen came to us with this offer. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Tacoma has wanted to launch a lecture series for a long time, but we have lacked the resources to make it happen.”
Paulsen, who graduated from the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø in 1940 and received his juris doctor degree from the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø School of Law in 1946, has fond memories of hearing British Labour Party Leader Harold Laske speak at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø in 1939 as part of the Walker Ames Lecture Series. He wants students to benefit from a balanced presentation of viewpoints on world affairs through this series.
Anna Mae Paulsen died in 2000.
The first lecture in the series will coincide with the opening of the new Assembly Hall in 2008. Currently in the design phase, the $12 million, 500-seat Assembly Hall will replace the old “Dawg Shed” building on Pacific Avenue and serve as a theater, large classroom and study space for ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Tacoma students, staff, faculty and the community.