The Caterpillar Foundation has renewed its support for the Center for Global Studies at Knox College with a three-year grant of $75,000. Inaugurated in 2003, the grant program supports the Caterpillar Distinguished Lectureship series, as well as other visiting speakers, scholars-in-residence, and faculty and student research in international studies.

Since its inception, the grant program has brought leading scholars and experts to speak at Knox on international relations, international economics, cultures and societies around the world and other topics related to globalization. Caterpillar Distinguished Lecturers have included former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, and Richard Longworth, executive director of the Global Chicago Center and former foreign correspondent for the Chicago Tribune.

The grant has also supported student and faculty study and research in the Middle East, East and Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa.

Co-directed by Michael Schneider, associate professor of history, and Robert Seibert, Murphy Professor of Political Science, the Center for Global Studies coordinates international aspects of Knox's educational program. The Center sponsors speakers and other on-campus initiatives, and promotes off-campus programs for Knox students in more than 30 nations.

Since its creation in 1952, the Caterpillar Foundation has distributed more than $100-million to organizations in the fields of education, health and human services, civic and community activities, and culture and art. The foundation is supported by gifts from employees of Caterpillar Inc., a Fortune 100 company and the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines.

Knox College Center for Global Studies

Caterpillar Distinguished Lecturers
  George Mitchell
  Richard Longworth