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AROUND THE QUADS
President Rupp Will Head International Rescue
Committee By Alex Sachare '71
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When
he retires as president of Columbia University this summer, George
Rupp will become president of the International Rescue Committee,
one of the world's leading refugee relief agencies. The IRC has
offices in more than 20 cities in the United States and extensive
aid operations in more than 30 countries.
Prior to becoming Columbia's president in 1993, Rupp served as
president of Rice University in Houston and dean of the Harvard
Divinity School. A year ago he advised Columbia's Board of Trustees
that he would step down on June 30, 2002, propting speculation as
to where he was headed. At the time Rupp said he was keeping his
options open, stipulating only that he would not become president
of another university.
"The
IRC is going from strength to strength," said board co-chairmen
Winston Lord and James C. Strickler, in a statement referring to
outgoing president Reynold Levy and Rupp. "We and the refugee cause
are fortunate to welcome a leader with George Rupp's vision, skills
and dedication to humanitarian causes. We are confident that he
will build on the strong gains in programming, fundraising and
managerial excellence that have been achieved over the last five
years under the outstanding leadership of Reynold Levy."
Said
Rupp, "I am excited to be joining the International Rescue
Committee. It is an honor to participate in continuing the IRC's
proud tradition of providing aid for refugees and other victims of
persecution and conflict. I look forward to working with my new
colleagues in this urgent cause."
At
Columbia, Rupp has focused on enhancing undergraduate education, on
strengthening the relationship of the campus to surrounding
communities and New York City as a whole, and on increasing the
international orientation of the University. He also completed a
financial restructuring, with the result that each of the annual
budgets he has submitted has been in balance. Under his leadership,
the University achieved record fund raising each year and completed
a $2.84 billion campaign.
Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC is
among the world's largest nonsectarian, nonprofit agencies
providing global emergency relief, rehabilitation, protection and
resettlement services for refugees, displaced persons and victims
of oppression and violent conflict. It is committed to freedom,
human dignity and self-reliance.
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