Myung Ki “Mike” Hong donated $2 million toward the establishment of two endowed chairs in UCLA’s department of chemistry and biochemistry. The gift created the Dr. Myung Ki Hong Endowed Chair in Polymer Science and the Dr. Myung Ki Hong Endowed Chair in Materials Innovation. Both chairs support scientific research with applications ranging from regenerative medicine to environmental sustainability.
“As a proud Bruin, I am delighted to give back to the university and the department that gave me the foundation for my success,” Hong said.
Hong’s donation was matched by the UCLA division of physical sciences for a total contribution of $4 million. The match was made possible by a program established after UCLA sold its royalty interest in Xtandi, a compound for the treatment of prostate cancer that was developed by researchers in the chemistry and biochemistry department. With its share of the proceeds from the Xtandi transaction, UCLA has also made matching funds available for gifts that support undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships and research programs.
Hong came to the U.S. from South Korea in 1954 as an exchange student and graduated from UCLA in 1959 with a degree in chemistry. He then worked at Whittaker Coatings for 22 years. In 1986, he founded Dura Coat Products, of which he is still chairman. The company distributes industrial coatings in the U.S. and internationally.
In 1992, after civil unrest in Los Angeles that followed the trial of police officers involved in the arrest and beating of Rodney King, Hong dedicated himself to promoting cultural understanding and tolerance. He served as chairman of a foundation dedicated to preserving the memory of Dosan Ahn Chang Ho, an early leader of the local Korean-American immigrant community. Hong reconnected with UCLA when he delivered the chemistry and biochemistry department’s commencement speech in 2015.
“We are grateful to Mike Hong for his incredible generosity,” said Catherine Clarke, the department’s chair and a professor of biochemistry. “These new endowed chairs will be a huge boost to polymer and materials science research at UCLA and will pave the way for many more groundbreaking discoveries.”
Heather Maynard holds the Dr. Myung Ki Hong Endowed Chair in Polymer Science and Richard Kaner holds the Dr. Myung Ki Hong Endowed Chair in Materials Innovation.
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