News Releases
5/23/07
LAWRENCE — Two University of Kansas alumni who funded the creation of a community center for scholarship hall residents at KU have now donated funds to renovate another historic Lawrence home.
Tom Rudkin knows how important it is to have a place to call home when studying — or teaching — abroad. As a KU student nearly 40 years ago, Rudkin spent his junior year studying in France.
Now, Rudkin and his wife, Jann Rudkin, both 1973 KU graduates, are making it possible for the university to establish a house near campus, where visiting international scholars and their families can live during their stays at KU.
The Rudkins have made a $250,000 gift to KU Endowment to provide funds to renovate a historic two-story house at 704 W. 12th St. KU Endowment acquired the property in 2001 from the Frank Pinet family.
Their earlier gift created the Wilna Crawford Community Center through the renovation of the former home of Juanita and Reginald Strait.
The gift for the home for international scholars includes funds to maintain the property and cover operating expenses during its first year of use. Work on the house, which will begin this summer, is expected to take two to three months.
The Rudkins, who live in Los Gatos, Calif., have long been interested in living abroad. In 1985, they and their daughter, Heather, combined work and travel when they spent the summer living in an apartment in Paris. Twelve years later, while in college, Heather spent a summer in Paris studying architectural history.
Tom Rudkin said his year studying abroad was the most important part of his education.
“Being in a place for nine months, you get a chance to start seeing things with a local eye,” Rudkin said. “And you begin to have an understanding of stories in the news from that perspective.”
The Rudkins are committed to KU’s International Studies Program. Tom, who serves on the International Program’s advisory board, said it’s difficult to find short-term housing for visiting scholars.
“If they’re here for a week you can get them into a hotel,” Rudkin said. “University officials have had to scramble to find housing for the scholars who have come to stay for a few months, so this will give them a place to live.”
Diana Carlin, dean of KU’s Graduate School and International Programs, said the house and its location will be ideal for visiting scholars and their families.
“It really will create an international presence on campus that we don’t have right now,” Carlin said.
Tom Rudkin has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from KU and a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin. Jann Rudkin has bachelor’s degrees from KU in chemistry and anthropology. In 1984, she earned a master’s degree in cybernetic systems at San Jose State University.
Tom Rudkin praised Carlin for her strong commitment to KU’s international studies.
“I think she probably would say her mission has been to carry out the internationalization of the university that the chancellor himself has talked about for so many years,” Rudkin said. “The ability to house foreign guests who come here is certainly a key part of the international studies program.”
KU Endowment is a nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.
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