EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Three significant gifts to Give Rise: The Campaign for Eastern Michigan University from former EMU History and Philosophy faculty member Jiu-Hwa Lo Upshur, Ph.D., have been announced by the Eastern Michigan University Foundation. Professor Upshur’s gifts include an Endowment for the Jiu-Hwa Lo Upshur Center for Civic Education in the amount of $500,000; $200,000 for the Expendable Fund for the Jiu-Hwa Lo Upshur Center for Civic Education; and $300,000 for the Jiu-Hwa Lo Upshur Endowment for Supporting Language Study Abroad (“Upshur Flight Fund”).

Professor Upshur’s generosity commemorates her 35 years of distinguished teaching and scholarship at EMU as well as her strong commitment to international education and scholarly breadth -- encompassing Chinese history, political science, anthropology, art, and Mesoamerican culture.

“It is impossible to overstate Professor Upshur’s contributions to EMU as a dedicated teacher and productive, influential scholar during her many years as a faculty member,” said Eastern Michigan University President James Smith. “The impact of her generosity is equally impossible to overstate. Civic education and language study are increasingly important competencies for our students, today and into the future, and these transformative gifts will ensure that the University’s footprint will continue to be significant.”

Eastern Michigan’s Department Head of History & Philosophy, Peter Higgins added, “The Upshur Center will provide sustained support for investigating innovative, effective approaches to civic education. We could not be more excited to begin the Center’s work, or more grateful to Dr. Upshur. The skills and knowledge required for democratic citizenship, which are central to the Department of History & Philosophy’s programs, are increasingly vital.”

Professor Upshur was born in China and moved with her family to India and later Australia, where she received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Sydney. A recipient of a Barbour Scholarship for graduate work at the University of Michigan, she studied history and anthropology and earned UM’s Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship. She began teaching at EMU as a part-time lecturer and, after completing her Ph.D. in 1972, joined the Eastern Michigan faculty full-time until her retirement in 2006. Professor Upshur is the author or co-author of scores of books, articles, and reviews.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 15,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral, and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences, and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors, and concentrations are delivered through the University’s Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University’s website. To stay up to date on University news, activities, and announcements, visit EMU Today.