$15M Gift from the Sallie Wang Revocable Trust

As a philosopher, I often react to unexpected moments by pursuing a philosophical explanation. St. Thomas Aquinas taught that God’s providence guides all things, including unforeseen events, within a broader framework of purpose. With that in mind—and with a heart filled with gratitude—I write to share some surprising news recently received that personifies the sheer wonder of the place we call St. John’s University.

The University was recently informed of a gift of $15 million from the Sallie Wang Revocable Trust. Sallie Wang was the widow of the late Professor Chin Ling Wang ’06HON.

Professor Wang was a tenured librarian at St. John’s for almost 30 years until he retired in the early 1980s. By all accounts, he and his beloved wife, Sallie, with whom he shared a lifetime of love, lived a modest life and kept a happy home adjacent to the Queens, NY, campus. Together, these hardworking Chinese immigrants pursued and achieved higher education—an extraordinary accomplishment at the time, considering their humble roots.

Early in his professional St. John’s career, Professor Wang implemented the transfer of the library collection from the former Brooklyn, NY, campus to what was then the University’s new home in Queens. He also initiated the Asian Collection at the University’s library. For years, he was a valuable contributor to the Institute for Asian Studies, first established in 1959, to foster, facilitate, and enhance a global, multicultural, multiethnic, and multilingual education at St. John’s.

The Asian Collection, first housed in St. Augustine Hall until its move to its current setting in Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, began as a collection of a few hundred books in the early 1960s and grew to a library of tens of thousands of titles. When the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966–76) unfolded—a decade-long, socio-political upheaval in China— it resulted in the widespread destruction of historical artifacts, books, and cultural and religious sites. Several of those historic artifacts were preserved due to the foresight and personal commitment of Professor Wang. Today, the strengths of the library’s collection include Chinese philosophy, theology, history, and literature, as well as Asian art, business, economics, and political science.

In 2006, the Chin Ying Asian Library on the Queens campus was established through a generous $1 million gift from Professor and Mrs. (Sallie) Chin Ling Wang. Additionally, they made several other gifts to St. John’s over the years, establishing in 2005 two annual scholarships awarded to a pair of graduate students pursuing a master’s degree in East Asian Studies or Chinese Studies.

The Wangs were members of The Founders Society, donating cumulative gifts of $1 million or more to the University during their lifetime, and members of The McCallen Society, a community of generous alumni, benefactors, and friends who demonstrate their commitment to the University in their estate plans. They were longtime and active St. John’s University Retirees’ Association members. For his indelible commitment to St. John’s, Professor Wang was awarded an honorary degree (Doctor of Letters) in 2006.

Professor Wang died in 2015 at the age of 99. His beloved wife, Sallie, passed away earlier this year at the age of 94.

After consultation with members of Sallie’s family, the University will disburse the $15 million donation from the Wang Trust with these designated funding allocations:

• $3 million to the Chin Ying Asian Library for capital improvements and an endowment to support future operations;

• $2 million toward the basketball practice facility, with the Men’s Basketball team lounge to be named Chin Ying Lounge;

• $5 million to create an Endowed Deanship in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, to be named Chin Ling and Sallie Wang Endowed Dean; and

• $5 million to establish the Chin Ling and Sallie Wang Endowed Scholarship Fund, which will support students with financial need.

I want to thank two members of Sallie’s family, Carol Wang and her husband, Brandon Qu, for their help and thoughtful assistance in ensuring that her lasting wishes were fulfilled.

With profound gratitude to the Wang family and to the work of the Office of Advancement, I share this news to amplify the enduring and transformative impact of St. John’s. Through the University’s $400-million Hearts on Fire campaign, the power of philanthropy will continue to have a strong and positive impact on our students, faculty, facilities, and programs. Indeed, we are a blessed institution.

Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P.
President