NEWTON, MA | January 28, 2008
Marvin J. Suomi, President and CEO of KUD International, a worldwide developer of public-private construction projects, has been elected to the Board of Trustees of Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC). EDC, celebrating its 50th year, is a global nonprofit organization that advances solutions to some of the world’s most urgent challenges in education, health, and economic development.
Suomi, a philanthropist known for his belief in the importance of higher education, provides scholarships and direct support for liberal arts at several colleges and universities. He serves as President and CEO of KUD International LLC, a subsidiary of Japan’s Kajima Corporation, a worldwide project manager and developer, whose projects include museums, educational buildings, and libraries. KUD International is currently involved in building the new Advanced Technologies Park at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Suomi lends his knowledge of business to his work on a number of university boards. He has served as a trustee of Allegheny College, California Lutheran University, Concordia University, Drew University, Finlandia University, University of Hawaii, and the University of Michigan. He is vice chair of the board and a visiting fellow of The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, and a lifetime trustee of the Princeton-in-Asia Foundation.
EDC President and CEO Luther Luedtke called the new trustee’s expertise and experience invaluable to EDC’s mission. “We are very pleased to have Marvin on the EDC board. He volunteers with great enthusiasm and energy and will bring his distinctive business expertise to EDC to advance our goals in education and health around the world,” Luedtke said.
Suomi joins EDC trustees Charles Benton, Chairman, Public Media Incorporated; Beatriz Chu Clewell, Principal Research Associate, The Urban Institute; Larry Irving, President, Irving Information Group; Bradley Palmer, Managing Partner, Palm Ventures, LLC; Linda G. Roberts, national education consultant; Vivien Stewart, Asia Society; Deborah Wadsworth, Senior Advisor, Public Agenda; Laura Walker, President and CEO, WNYC Radio; Luther Luedtke, President and CEO, EDC; and Gail T. P. Wickes.
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Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) is a global nonprofit organization that develops, delivers, and evaluates innovative programs to address some of the world's most urgent challenges in education, health, and economic development. EDC manages more than 300 projects in 35 countries.
http://www.edc.org
