Spring Break
Miami alumnus to donate $14.7 million
Former AT&T CEO to expand IMS institute with contribution
Roger Sauerhaft
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: Front Page
Tuesday night marked the return to Oxford of Miami University alumnus and former chairman and CEO of AT&T Mike Armstrong to announce his historic 14.7 million dollar donation to Miami.
The announcement was made during an interactive media studies (IMS) symposium at the Marcum Conference Center.
The 14.7 million dollars put forth by Armstrong makes him the second most prolific alumni contributor in school history behind Richard T. Farmer, for whom the business school is named.
The money from this contribution is being allotted by Armstrong to Armstrong Interactive Media Studies (AIMS), an institute at Miami started in 1999. The institute houses the university's IMS program, according to Glenn Platt, director of IMS and co-chair of AIMS.
Armstrong said that differences will be seen in a few years with new equipment and facilities for the schools of business, engineering and fine arts, as well as King Library's Thunder Room on the first floor.
"(The Thunder Room has) technology of radical collaboration that goes beyond video conferencing," Armstrong said.
Lisa Santucci, associate librarian at King Library, said the Thunder Room has an electronic flip-chart system, which students can use to do online collaborations. She said while this one already exists in the library, Armstrong's donation will go toward the creation of another for AIMS.
Armstrong said that AIMS is meant to help students gain experience in the real world in their respective disciples.
"AIMS will enable digital technology to fuse teaching, research and service into expansive, yet individualized learning through interdisciplinary collaboration," Armstrong said.
AIMS consists of two chairs and two professors. The chairs are Platt and someone from the school of business who has yet to be named. The two professors will include one from the School of Education and Allied Professions and one from the School of Fine Arts.
An advisory committee also exists, chaired by Miami President David Hodge and Armstrong. Additionally, all institutional funds will be overseen by the provost.
The announcement was made during an interactive media studies (IMS) symposium at the Marcum Conference Center.
The 14.7 million dollars put forth by Armstrong makes him the second most prolific alumni contributor in school history behind Richard T. Farmer, for whom the business school is named.
The money from this contribution is being allotted by Armstrong to Armstrong Interactive Media Studies (AIMS), an institute at Miami started in 1999. The institute houses the university's IMS program, according to Glenn Platt, director of IMS and co-chair of AIMS.
Armstrong said that differences will be seen in a few years with new equipment and facilities for the schools of business, engineering and fine arts, as well as King Library's Thunder Room on the first floor.
"(The Thunder Room has) technology of radical collaboration that goes beyond video conferencing," Armstrong said.
Lisa Santucci, associate librarian at King Library, said the Thunder Room has an electronic flip-chart system, which students can use to do online collaborations. She said while this one already exists in the library, Armstrong's donation will go toward the creation of another for AIMS.
Armstrong said that AIMS is meant to help students gain experience in the real world in their respective disciples.
"AIMS will enable digital technology to fuse teaching, research and service into expansive, yet individualized learning through interdisciplinary collaboration," Armstrong said.
AIMS consists of two chairs and two professors. The chairs are Platt and someone from the school of business who has yet to be named. The two professors will include one from the School of Education and Allied Professions and one from the School of Fine Arts.
An advisory committee also exists, chaired by Miami President David Hodge and Armstrong. Additionally, all institutional funds will be overseen by the provost.
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