$3M Hostler Gift Supports Global Studies
The Charles W. Hostler Institute on World Affairs provides a campus forum for the discussion of critical global issues.
A man whose honors include the U.S. Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart and a Commendation medal for counter-espionage work during WWII has donated a large gift to SDSU’s international and area studies programs.
The $3 million gift from Charles W. Hostler and his wife, Chinyeh, is a continuation of their decade-long support for the College of Arts and Letters and its Charles W. Hostler Institute on World Affairs, a campus forum for the discussion of critical global issues.
Distinguished international speakers on campus
The Hostlers are providing additional support for the institute, which presents lectures by men and women distinguished in the international arena.
Speakers have included:
- American statesman Ralph Bunche
- Nobel Laureates Linus Pauling and Willard Libby
- U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich
- Ambassadors to the U.S. from Brazil, China, Germany, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and many other countries.
“The Hostler’s support of the Institute on World Affairs has enabled us to bring to life the things and people our students are studying,” said Paul Wong, dean of the College of Arts and Letters. “There’s no greater way to learn about world events than from the people who are directly involved in them. Charles and Chin-yeh Hostler have become great champions of our efforts to give our students the best experiences possible in this way.”
Supporting students
The Institute also awards stipends to the Hostler Fellows — undergraduate and graduate students chosen to develop in-depth research papers on topics related to world affairs.
More about Hostler
Hostler began his own career in world affairs after graduating from UCLA. He joined the Air Force as an ROTC 2nd Lieutenant and was assigned to the Office of Strategic Services (predecessor to the CIA) for Allied counter-espionage operations. His unit landed at Utah Beach in Normandy on D-Day.
In 2004, during celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Hostler received the French Legion of Honor from President Jacques Chirac of France.
During his long public service career, Hostler also served as U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain, deputy assistant secretary for international commerce, and commissioner for several California state organizations.
SDSU recognized his achievements with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 2010. Now, as a tribute to his continued support, the university will name the new west building of Storm Hall as the Charles W. Hostler Building.
