Sponsors

IES acknowledges the following sponsors for their collaboration and support:

France-Berkeley Fund LogoJean Pajus

Jean Pajus (1903-1999) was a native of France. An economist and lawyer by training, he taught economics at UC Berkeley in the 1930s. He later worked at other colleges and universities and for the federal government. While at Berkeley, he met and married his wife, Bessie. Both received their B.A. from Cal in 1921. The France-Berkeley Fund honors Dr. Pajus' legacy by supporting joint research projects from scholars at UC Berkeley and all French universities. 

Photo of German Chancellor Helmut KohlHelmut Kohl

IIn 1991, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl personally inaugurated the Center for German and European Studies at UC Berkeley, gave the convocation address and received the Berkeley Medal. This event underscored the importance of European Studies on the West Coast and laid the foundation for today’s Institute of European Studies. The Helmut Kohl German and European Studies Fund supports UC Berkeley doctoral students enrolled in the Designated Emphasis in European Studies.

Robert Kirk UnderhillRobert Kirk Underhill

R. Kirk Underhill (1906 - 1997) was an alumnus of UC Berkeley, graduating in 1928 with a B.S. in Economics. A lifelong devotee to British institutions and customs, he launched San Francisco's “London Weeks” and served as chairman emeritus of the English Speaking Union in San Francisco. He was also a Commander of the British Empire and a Knight in the Order of St. John, and served as a Major in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. The Robert Kirk clothing store, which he founded in San Francisco in 1939, reflected his dedication to British culture. In 2003, the Robert Kirk Underhill Trust established the Center for British Studies at UC Berkeley. The Center celebrates Underhill's legacy by supporting scholarly research and educational initiatives focused on British culture, society and history.

Barbro Osher

Barbro Osher

The Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation and Bernard Osher Foundation made the initial gift that created the UC Berkeley Nordic CenterBarbro and Bernard Osher strongly believe that the Nordics represent a hopeful agenda to address pressing global challenges. 

Photo of Gerald D. FeldmanGerald D. and Norma Feldman

In 1994, Professor Gerald D. Feldman assumed the directorship of the UC Center for German and European Studies, the research center that served the ten campuses of the University of California and in 2000 became part of the newly formed Institute of European Studies. Under his leadership from 1994 to 2006, both the Center and the Institute provided generous funding for students and faculty whose research focused on Europe. Thanks to the support of Dr. Norma Feldman, the memory of Professor Feldman — particularly his dedication to graduate students — is honored with the Gerald D. and Norma Feldman Graduate Student Dissertation Fellowship as well as the annual Gerald D. and Norma Feldman lecture.

Logo of Center for Portuguese StudiesArthur Ferreira Pinto and Annette Fialon

UC Berkeley alumnus and chemist Arthur Ferreira Pinto (1901-1991) was originally from Aveiro, Portugal. He emigrated to the US in 1920, working on farms and sawmills in the Sacramento Delta and taking high school courses at night. Pinto entered the University of California, studying chemistry and despite his hardships graduated in 1942, at age 40.  Pinto developed and published a method to analyze copra and oilseeds, and invented and patented laboratory equipment. In 1949 he joined the US Army Chemical Corps as a chemical control inspector, left in 1959 to travel abroad, returned to work as a chemist for the State of California, retired in 1968. Upon retirement, he traveled abroad for six years, then returned to Berkeley, where he lived until his death in 1991 at age 90. Ms. Annette Fialon (Berkeley High School French Teacher) spent her retirement years with Mr. Pinto in Berkeley and on frequent trips abroad until her death in 1985. Both Mr. Pinto and Ms. Fialon left their estates to the University of California, and their generosity makes it financially possible for many Portuguese and Portuguese-American undergraduates and graduate students to attend UC Berkeley. With the support of the Pinto-Fialon Fund, the Center for Portuguese Studies offers fellowships to doctoral students embarking on dissertations focused on Portugal, and administers scholarships to undergraduate students of Portuguese descent.