UCI professor emeritus of history makes legacy gift to support graduate students

UCI professor emeritus of history James Given and his wife Ruth have created a $500,000 endowment for UCI’s Department of History, to be paid from their estate after both have passed. The gift will enable history graduate students to conduct dissertation research domestically or internationally and to present their research at conferences. “We are incredibly grateful to James and Ruth for their support of our graduate students,” said David Igler, chair of history. “Their generosity will ensure our students are able to travel to conduct research integral to their scholarship and to present their findings at professional conferences.” Given taught medieval European history at UCI for nearly 30 years. The ability to travel to London was formative to Given’s dissertation research and he acknowledges that travel and research funds for graduate students are a growing need. He retired in 2012 and looks fondly at his time growing the university. “At Irvine, I really felt like I was playing a role, a not insignificant role, in helping to build up a very impressive university,” he said.