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On September 21, 2010, Foundation President Michael Gilligan gave the Commencement Address for LaGuardia Community College.

To read the full text, click here.

2010 Message from the Chair and the President available here.

On June 2, 2009, the Directors of the Henry Luce Foundation elected Dr. George E. Rupp to serve as Member and Director of the foundation.

Since July 2002, Dr. Rupp has been president of the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Before his work at IRC, he served as president of Columbia University (1993-2002). Earlier in his career, he was president of Rice University (1985-1993) and Dean of Harvard Divinity School (1979-1985). His first appointments in academic administration were as vice chancellor at University of Redlands, and dean of academic affairs at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Born in New Jersey of immigrant parents, Dr. Rupp has studied and conducted research for extended periods in both Europe and Asia. A graduate of Princeton University, Dr. Rupp received the Bachelor of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School and the Ph.D. in religion from Harvard University. He is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church USA and the author of five books, most recently Globalization Challenged: Commitment, Conflict, Community (Columbia University Press, 2006).

Dr. Rupp joined the board at the annual meeting in November.

The Board of Directors elected Robert Eddy Armstrong Director Emeritus at their meeting on November 12, 2008 – effective January 1, 2009, when he completes his term.

In 2008-2009, The Henry Luce Foundation announced three staff appointments. Two long-time leaders of the Foundation’s staff have also retired.

LI Ling was appointed Program Director for Luce Scholars and Program Officer for Asia, effective January 1, 2009. A graduate of Syracuse University’s Maxwell School and Columbia Law School, Ling has most recently directed the Transnational Initiatives of the National Committee on U.S.- China Relations. Previously, he practiced law with Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton LLP (Hong Kong and New York), and served the International Organization for Migration (Vienna, Washington and Geneva).

Dr. Toby Volkman was appointed Director of Policy Initiatives, effective March 1, 2009, and has been elected Secretary of the corporation. Her primary responsibility in Policy Initiatives is the Henry R. Luce Initiative on Religion and International Affairs. An anthropologist educated at the University of Chicago and Cornell, Toby has held leadership roles at the Social Science Research Council, the Ford Foundation and the New School, and most recently has directed special projects of the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program.

Helena Kolenda was appointed Program Director for Asia, effective August 1, 2008. She joined the foundation’s staff in 1998 as program officer. Prior to that time, she worked in the field of Chinese law in New York and Beijing. At the Foundation, she took an active role in the Luce Fund for Asian Studies. Most recently, she has developed and directed the Luce Initiative on East and Southeast Asian Archaeology and Early History, in collaboration with the American Council of Learned Societies.

Dr. Terrill E. Lautz retired from the Luce Foundation’s staff on July 31, 2008. Initially appointed in 1984, he has served as vice president and secretary of the foundation, and director of the Asia, Higher Education, and Henry R. Luce Professorship programs. Since 2005, he has also directed the Henry R. Luce Initiative on Religion and International Affairs. He has regularly participated in the Luce Scholars program, as well. After his retirement, Dr. Lautz will continue to oversee the Henry R. Luce Professorships as a consultant, as well as remaining active in teaching, scholarship and service.

Helene Redell retired from her full-time position as Vice President and Program Director for Luce Scholars at the end of 2008, after 28 years of service. In 2009, she has accepted a new role at the foundation as Coordinator of the Luce Scholars Network. In this part-time assignment, she will promote the program’s visibility and professional contribution by developing activities and communication strategies for the 500+ Luce Scholars selected since 1974.