The University Library is named
in honor of Leo Kolligian, a Fresno native
and former University of California Regent,
and his late wife, Dottie. The Kolligians have
been honored for their many years of advocacy
and support of UC Merced, and in recognition
of a generous commitment made by Leo Kolligian
and his extended family to establish a permanent
endowment for the library.
The Kolligian Library will house an array
of new and traditional information resources
and services, computer laboratories, instructional
technology support, multimedia services,
and library service instructional rooms.
"Leo
Kolligian has earned the reputation as the 'father' of the UC
Merced campus for his steadfast support of the campus and his
unrelenting commitment to ensure that it be located in the San
Joaquin Valley," said Chancellor Carol Tomlinson-Keasey. "His
dedicated and devoted wife, Dottie, was his partner in their advocacy
for the new campus and was named UC Merced Trustee of the Year
in December 2000. It is thus fitting that one of our first buildings
at UC Merced honor their legacy."
Most notable in that legacy is the Kolligians'
lifelong commitment to educational and
charitable causes and activities. "I am
honored, elated and greatly appreciative
of the respect that our family will be
permanently associated with a world-class
university, which will serve generations
of outstanding young students from the
Central Valley," said Leo Kolligian. "I
am grateful and particularly pleased and
thankful that the library, which I consider
to be the heart of a university, will
bear our names."
Kolligian, an attorney and developer who
graduated from California State University,
Fresno and UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School
of Law, practiced law in Fresno for more
than 50 years. He served as Deputy California
Attorney General under Robert Kenny and
as a former Chairman of the UC Board of
Regents. As Chair of the Board, he championed
the cause for the first University of
California campus in the San Joaquin Valley.
In 1988, he moved for up to three new
UC campuses, with the first one to be
built in the Valley, and the Regents unanimously
passed his motion.
Asked to serve as the first two members
of the UC Merced Foundation Board of Trustees,
Leo and Dottie Kolligian in turn persuaded
other leaders throughout the San Joaquin
Valley to join this key advisory board
of the UC Merced campus.
