Endowment attracts Nobel Laureate to UNLV college

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2000 | 11:41 a.m.

A multimillion-dollar endowment to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' College of Liberal Arts has attracted a Nobel Laureate for the first time to teach at a Nevada university.

A $2 million donation will fund an endowed Chair of Creative Writing. Its first occupant is Wole Soyinka, a Nigerian dramatist, poet and essayist who received a Nobel Prize in 1986.

Soyinka's name is becoming a familiar one in Clark County.

In addition to receiving an honorary doctorate from UNLV in May, Soyinka has worked with local community leaders to establish Las Vegas as North America's first City of Asylum, a refuge for artists and writers who are persecuted in their native land for espousing unpopular views.

Soyinka has taught at Emory University in Atlanta. He wants to teach both literature and writing, and may also work with UNLV's theater program. He said he will begin visiting classes this semester.

Glenn Schaeffer, president of Mandalay Resort Group, provided the donation with the promise of more. He said his intent is to help create an Institute of Modern Letters at UNLV. Schaeffer also helped fund the City of Asylum project through Mandalay Bay.

Schaeffer is a graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop. He said he strongly believes that a strong liberal arts program is crucial in the creation of a world-class university.

UNLV President Carol Harter said Schaeffer's donation will allow the university to create a center of excellence in the liberal and creative arts.