Every year, Ronald Perelman, W’64, WG’66, PAR’93, PAR’95, PAR’12, brings the stars together at a fundraising event for the historic Apollo Theatre in Harlem. But on November 7, it was his name in lights at the dedication of the Ronald O. Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics.
“The Perelman Center is all about connections, about aligning the stars of two of our largest departments and our most popular undergraduate majors,” President Amy Gutmann said at the event. “By bringing together political science and economics, along with the School of Arts and Sciences’ globally focused research centers, the Ronald O. Perelman Center underscores Penn’s deep dedication to cross-disciplinary research and policy relevance.”
Penn welcomed luminaries from across the political spectrum to the dedication, including NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell, CW’69, HON’18; humanitarian Cindy McCain and lawyer Vicki Kennedy, widows of U.S. Senators John McCain and Ted Kennedy; and 2018-19 Presidential Professor of Practice Jeb Bush. The guest list was fitting for the Ronald O. Perelman Center, where collaboration, knowledge sharing, and healthy discourse will help advance the highest ideals of a democratic society.
“One of the most important roles of a great university is to encourage open dialogue, the free exchange of ideas, and civil and robust expression of divergent views,” Gutmann said at the dedication. “This building will be a place to do just that.”
Formidable Philanthropy
Perelman’s $25 million gift, made in February 2013, funded the renovation of the historic West Philadelphia Trust Building at 36th and Walnut streets, transforming it into a hub of interdisciplinary scholarship and productive collaborations.
“I am proud to continue my support of this extraordinary institution that means so much to me and my family,” Perelman said upon making his commitment. “This gift underscores my deeply held belief that our next generation must be given the tools to not only understand, but positively impact government and the increasingly complex global economy.”
Inside the Perelman Center
The Ronald O. Perelman Center is a transformative space for the School of Arts and Sciences, providing a home for undergraduates in some of the College’s most popular majors and creating a stimulating, cross-disciplinary environment for graduate students and faculty in two of our core social science departments.
Dean Steven J. Fluharty, C’79, Gr’81, PAR’07
In addition to housing the political science and economics departments, the Ronald O. Perelman Center also serves as a home base for the following unique programs:
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Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy
The Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy promotes scholarship to advance our understanding of core democratic values and the challenges we face in upholding them.
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Center for the Advanced Study of India
The Center for the Advanced Study of India advances understanding of contemporary India by engaging in policy-relevant research focused on present-day challenges.
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Center for the Study of Contemporary China
The Center for the Study of Contemporary China provides a home for campus-wide collaboration and discourse on developments in China during this period of dramatic growth and transition.
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Center for the Study of Ethnicity, Race, and Immigration
The Center for the Study of Ethnicity, Race, and Immigration is the first center of its kind to address the intersection of narratives surrounding ethnicity, race, and immigration.
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Christopher H. Browne Center for International Politics
The Christopher H. Browne Center for International Politics promotes interdisciplinary research focusing on international relations, international security, and international political economy.
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Penn Institute for Economic Research
The Penn Institute for Economic Research advances the science of economics and provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and research that has an impact on public policy.
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Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies
The Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies teaches undergraduates a data-driven approach to understanding political outcomes in the United States.
Giving opportunities are available at each center, from naming gifts and fellowships to funds that support research projects and general operations. We encourage you to contact the Penn Arts and Sciences Office of Advancement to find out how you can help advance knowledge at the Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics.
