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Widener University Receives $5 Million Gift for Leadership Institute

The Oskin Leadership Institute at Widener University will provide a variety of opportunities for Widener undergraduate and graduate students to participate in leadership development activities, experiential learning, and international opportunities focused on developing the character, courage and competencies to affect positive change throughout the world. In addition, the institute will work with corporations and other organizations to offer an executive leadership program, providing opportunities for corporate and non- profit executives to enhance their global leadership skills.

Widener University President James T. Harris III and the Oskins announced the gift and the institute Saturday morning during the opening of the university's Sixth Annual Student Leadership Development Conference, which attracted more than 150 college and university student leaders from the greaterPhiladelphia region.

"This extraordinarily generous gift from the Oskins will transform the university into a global leader in developing the skills students need to become leaders in the corporate boardroom, in the halls of government, and in communities worldwide," Harris said.

Oskin has served on the Board of Trustees at Widener since 1997, and as chair of the board since 2001. Mr. and Mrs. Oskin also founded the Steven Ross Oskin Scholarship in memory of their son. The scholarships are awarded annually to African-American students. Mr. Oskin has received the Widener University Outstanding Alumnus Award and an honorary doctor public service degree from Widener.

Oskin, who used his Pennsylvania Military College (now Widener University) education as a springboard to achieve great success as a senior level corporate executive, said he made the gift to Widener because "leadership is at the heart of Widener." He said that the development of strong leadership skills in America's youth is more important now than at any time in our nation's history.

"The Oskin Institute will seek to develop citizens who understand that global issues and problems are within their power to solve and that it is their responsibility to learn the skills to address those problems throughout their lives," Oskin said. "The institute will perpetuate the university's long traditions of leaders, values and service by developing and educating students to be strategic leaders and responsible citizens who have vision, courage, character and competencies to effect positive change throughout the world."

Raised nearPittsburgh, Pa., Mr. Oskin graduated from Pennsylvania Military College in 1964 with a bachelor's degree and married JoEllen Ross that same year. After graduation, he joined the Army and served inthe United States andVietnam where he was awarded medals for leadership.

Following his Army service, Mr. Oskin entered the corporate world and in 1975 he joined International Paper. Mrs. Oskin pursued her college education, earning a bachelor's degree in special education from Rhode Island College and a master's degree in library science fromSouthern Connecticut College.

Mr. Oskin left International Paper in 1991 to become chief executive officer and director of Carter Holt Harvey, aNew Zealand-based forest products company. After five years with Carter Holt Harvey, Oskin returned to International Paper where he served as executive vice president until 2003. Mrs. Oskin worked as a special education teacher in theGreenwich andDarien, Conn. school systems, and served with the staff at Kings College Library in Auckland, New Zealand.

Today, Mr. Oskin is president of his own investment firm, Four Winds Ventures. In addition to serving on the board of Widener, Oskin serves as a director of Verso Paper Holdings, Samling Global Limited, listed on theHong Kong exchange, Big Earth Publishing and Pacific Millennium ofShanghai, China. He previously served on the boards of Goodman Global Limited, National 4-H Council, was vice chairman of the U.S. National Forest Products Association, a member of the Komatsu International Board based inTokyo, Japan, a member of the New Zealand Business Roundtable, and a member of theAustralia,Japan and Chile Trade Councils.

For years, Mrs. Oskin volunteered as a peer counselor for nursing and home care. She currently serves as a member of the board of directors of Mid-Fairfield Nursing and Home Care and Hospice.

David Oskin Jr. is an entrepreneur who built a book and magazine publishing company and serves as chief executive officer of Big Earth Publishing based inBoulder, Colo. He graduated from DePauw University in Indiana and earned a master's degree from Vanderbilt University.

The university's previous largest gift was a $3.5 million pledge in 1998 from the late Leslie C. Quick Jr., an alumnus and co-founder of Quick & Reilly, Inc., for the construction of what is now the Leslie C. Quick Jr. Center at Widener, home of the university's School of Business Administration.

Widener University is a private, metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, and experiential learning are key components of the Widener experience. A comprehensive doctorate-granting university, Widener comprises eight schools and colleges that offer liberal arts and sciences, professional and pre-professional curricula leading to associate's, baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees. The university's campuses in Chester,Exton, andHarrisburg, Pa., andWilmington, Del., serve some 6,700 students. Visit the university website, www.widener.edu.

Contact: Dan Hanson

               Public Relations
               610-499-4433

SOURCE Widener University