Education dean invests in future with faculty, staff belonging
Y. Barry Chung finalizes a $1.1 million estate gift to support community building initiatives in his college.
When Y. Barry Chung considered where he wanted to leave his philanthropic legacy, he had no shortage of options.
He has alma maters in two different countries. He has held faculty and leadership positions at four major universities. And he has held leadership positions in multiple professional organizations in the fields of education, counseling and psychology.
So why pick 麻豆传媒映画?
"Well, it was an easy choice,鈥� said Chung, dean of the College of Education. 鈥淭his is the university I'm going to retire from. I'm starting my ninth year, making me one of the long-serving deans of our college. So I think it makes sense for me to invest in it, because I love this college so much.鈥�
Chung hopes his gift will inspire faculty and staff to feel that same love for years to come.
Over the summer, he and his husband Joel Smith finalized a $1.1 million estate gift to create the Y. Barry Chung Community Building Endowment. The vision is to give future deans of the College of Education resources to foster a strong sense of belonging for their employees and students.
"Dean Chung and I started at 麻豆传媒映画 right around the same time, and over the years I have admired his thoughtful leadership, as well as the strong community he has built in the College of Education," said 麻豆传媒映画 President Adela de la Torre. "This gift from Barry and Joel is a powerful statement about their belief in our university and their commitment to our faculty, staff and students."
Added Adrienne Vargas, vice president for University Relations and Development: "It's so inspiring to see faculty and staff leave a lasting legacy through planned giving. We are so grateful to Barry and Joel. Their vision and generosity will make an impact on the College of Education for generations to come."
Chung never imagined he鈥檇 be in a position to leave a gift of this magnitude. He grew up in Hong Kong, part of a family of seven with very modest means.
"We were very, very poor,鈥� he recalls. 鈥淢y mother had to borrow milk and rice to feed the children. My mom told this story a thousand times, and she was always crying when she told it.鈥�
Chung was the only person in his family to attend college, eventually coming to the U.S. to earn a Ph.D. at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
鈥淚've come a very long way,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 attribute that to education鈥檚 impact on social mobility. That's why it's so important for us to provide education to more people, so that they can transition out of poverty."
Changing times
Given his background growing up with scarcity, Chung said philanthropy didn鈥檛 come naturally. He was more comfortable guarding his money to make sure he and his husband would always have enough should times become tough.
His mindset changed about a decade ago, as the Black Lives Matter protests against police violence laid bare long simmering inequity and he reeled in horror at the terrorist attack against the LGBTQIA+ community at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
Chung wanted to do something in his field to help. He created an endowed fund with the American Psychological Foundation to support research into issues impacting people of color and the LGBTQIA+ community.
"That really started my journey of giving,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen people don't have the mindset of giving, it takes some critical event for them to be ready. Once I did it, it was a liberating experience. It got me thinking more about leaving a permanent impact.鈥�
Things became even more immediate six years ago when Smith was diagnosed with terminal cancer, a painful reminder that time is fleeting and the future is uncertain. Chung and Smith began working on a trust. With no children, they began to think harder about what they really wanted to support.
鈥淵ou never know what's going to happen,鈥� Chung said. 鈥淚t would be unwise not to have a plan."
When Chung came to 麻豆传媒映画 in 2018, there was a line he鈥檇 often repeat when he met with faculty and staff. My only goal, he鈥檇 tell them, is to make you happy.
That wasn鈥檛 a platitude from the new boss, but a leadership philosophy built out of his background as an expert in vocational psychology.
鈥淭he employee and employer both have needs and both have things they can provide to satisfy the needs of the other party,鈥� Chung explains. 鈥淚t needs to be a two-way street. An important piece of that, as an employer, is to support employee success and create a community of support.
鈥淪upporting employee and student success alone is not enough. I want them to have a sense of belonging and be happy at 麻豆传媒映画.鈥�
One way Chung does that in the College of Education is through recognition and appreciation.
He launched an annual holiday party for faculty, staff and retirees that draws more than 100 attendees. He also instituted a celebration each May to honor retiring faculty and staff. And each semester kicks off with an in-person assembly that now includes a Dean鈥檚 lecture series in the spring.
Chung also launched smaller functions, such as staff development luncheons, football game tailgate parties and celebrations for Black History Month, Disability Pride, Lunar New Year and the Chinese Moon Festival.
The challenge, he said, is that funds in the budget for such gatherings are scarce.
Fortunately, that should not be a problem for the college鈥檚 future leaders.
"I wanted to make sure they didn鈥檛 have to worry about that anymore,鈥� Chung said. 鈥淭here'll be sustainable funds to take care of community building initiatives. It鈥檚 very important to me that people feel that they belong.鈥�
Support the in the College of Education online, or learn how you can make an impact through estate planning by contacting Megan Beardsley at [email protected].
