Advancing Interdisciplinarity Through Philanthropic Endeavors: Lessons From Four John M. Olin Centers

• In Event: Sunday Roundtable Session 11:25 am
  In Roundtable Session: Considering Philanthropy's Influence on Educational Infrastructures (Table 9)

Abstract

investigates the influential legacy of the John M. Olin Centers at various universities, highlighting the crucial role played by the conservative philosophy of their original patron, the Olin Foundation. Upon the foundation's closure, the centers underwent divergent evolutions. Harvard and Stanford embraced the trend of academic capitalism, aligning their research with market needs and practical applications. In contrast, Yale and the University of Chicago chose to uphold the intellectual purity and academic autonomy of traditional academia, focusing on the theoretical and philosophical aspects of law and economics. This comparative analysis offers valuable insights into the unfolding dynamics of higher education, illustrating how institutions are balancing the quest for knowledge with the demands of an ever-evolving global market.

Author

• Chan Lu, University of Georgia