Math Professor Donates $10 Million to Tufts
The Science and Engineering Complex was renamed to honor the donor's grandfather.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Mathematics
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In 2024, longtime mathematics professor Loring Tu donated more than $10 million to Tufts University in Medford. The university subsequently renamed its Science and Engineering Complex the Tsungming Tu Complex.
Why it matters
The donation aims to bolster the university's financial resources for student assistance. It also serves as a personal tribute to the professor's late grandfather, Tsungming Tu, who founded Kaohsiung Medical College in 1954.
Loring Tu, who has taught mathematics at Tufts for 38 years, funded this contribution through personal stock market investments he initiated in 1997. His initial $1,000 investment in Apple shares, purchased at roughly 15 cents per share, grew significantly over several decades.
The players
Loring Tu
He is a longtime mathematics professor at Tufts University who joined the faculty in 1986.
Tsungming Tu
He was an educator who founded Kaohsiung Medical College in 1954.
Tufts University
This is a private research university located in Medford, Massachusetts.
The details
Loring Tu joined the Tufts University faculty in 1986 and has authored four books during his tenure. The funds were accumulated through disciplined investments in companies he understood well, continuing a history of support that included two endowed scholarships and three on-campus student houses.
Timeline
Loring Tu joined the Tufts University faculty in 1986.
Loring Tu began investing in Apple stock in 1997.
The $10 million donation to Tufts University occurred in 2024.
Tufts renamed the complex in November 2024.
Loring Tu is scheduled to retire at the end of 2025.
The Big Picture
This donation continues the legacy established by the 1954 founding of Kaohsiung Medical College by Tsungming Tu. The gift connects the professor's academic career to the broader history of intergenerational institutional support.
The donation increases the available financial aid resources for students at the newly named Tsungming Tu Complex. Current and future students may see expanded support programs as a direct result of this long-term investment strategy.
The takeaway
Loring Tu exemplifies how long-term, patient investment can create significant philanthropic opportunities later in a career. His transition from educator to major donor highlights the potential impact of dedicated personal wealth management on higher education.
What happens next
Loring Tu is scheduled to retire from his position at Tufts University at the end of 2025.
Further reading
For more on academic developments, visit Mathematics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
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