A School of Public Health for UW-Milwaukee is a step closer to becoming a reality as of Monday after a proposed multi-million dollar donation by a local real estate tycoon.
Milwaukee native Joseph J. Zilber, 89, is expected to announce a donation of $10 million for the proposed school today, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The gift is part of a total $50 million donation package Zilber announced Aug. 21, when he gave $30 million to the Marquette University Law School.
Our state must be actively engaged in significant research, to better understand the health care problems that exist in our community and throughout our state,"" Zilber said in a statement.
Zilber stated he hopes the donations can revitalize the economy in Milwaukee and help the city reach a greater potential. He started what would become an international real estate company in the city when he began building homes for returning soldiers after World War II.
""It is time for us to rebuild Milwaukee,"" Zilber said during the donation ceremony at Marquette last month.
The proposed school comes as UW-Milwaukee looks to increase its statewide impact and research abilities.
In an interview with the Wisconsin Technology Network, Colin Scanes, dean of the graduate school at UW-Milwaukee, said he hopes UW-Milwaukee can be the sort of engine for economic development that UW-Madison has been for the city of Madison.
""We don't want to be thought of as the second university in the state,"" Scanes said on making UW-Milwaukee as important to the state as UW-Madison.
Scanes similarly said that having Milwaukee could accommodate having more than one premier research institution in the state. The two universities would be able to work toward their own individual strengths without continually competing for state resources according to Scanes.
""This state is big enough to have two strong research universities,"" Scanes said.
