The MIT Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing has garnered significant backing for its impressive new facility on Vassar Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A substantial donation from Sebastian Man ’79, SM ’80 will be acknowledged with the naming of an important area within the structure, enhancing the educational and research endeavors of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and MIT.
As the inaugural major donor to contribute to the building following Stephen A. Schwarzman’s essential contribution that established the Schwarzman College of Computing, Man is the chair and CEO of Chung Mei International Holdings Ltd., a producer of household kitchen electronics and air purification products for prominent global brands. A strong advocate for education, he holds a council position at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, is a member of the Board of the Morningside College of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and has served on the court of the University of Hong Kong as well as chairing the Harvard Business School Association of Hong Kong. His community involvement includes acting as a council member of The Better Hong Kong Foundation and serving on the executive committee of the International Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong China Business Council, along with numerous other civic and business organizations. Man is also part of the MIT parent network, with his son, Brandon Man, pursuing graduate studies in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Man’s contribution to the college was honored at a gathering and luncheon in Hong Kong, where he resides, on January 10. MIT Chancellor for Academic Advancement W. Eric L. Grimson PhD ’80, who facilitated the occasion, emphasized that beyond his financial contributions to the Institute, Man has undertaken many significant volunteer roles at MIT. “His commitment includes promoting MIT on various fronts as a member of the Corporation Development Committee, sharing his knowledge through his recent selection as a new member of the Mechanical Engineering Visiting Committee, and, most recently, his acceptance of an invitation to join the Dean’s Advisory Council of the Schwarzman College of Computing,” he remarked.
“This new facility serves as a home for the MIT community and for those who are influencing the future of computing and AI,” remarked MIT Schwarzman College of Computing Dean Daniel Huttenlocher SM ’84, PhD ’88 in a video message to Man and his family. “Owing to your generosity, the college is better equipped to fulfill its mission of creating a positive impact on society, for which we are deeply thankful.”
The cutting-edge MIT Schwarzman College of Computing headquarters was envisioned to embody the mission of addressing swiftly evolving demands in computing via innovative approaches to research, education, and real-world interaction. The facility offers MIT’s campus a central hub for computing research teams, modern classrooms, as well as gathering and event venues.
Attendees of the Hong Kong event also relished a video address from Stephen A. Schwarzman, chair, CEO, and co-founder of Blackstone and the college’s founding benefactor. “When we initially announced the new college at MIT,” he stated, “MIT proclaimed it was reconfiguring itself for the future. That future has arrived even quicker than we anticipated. Today, AI is part of everyday conversation, and MIT’s capacity to influence its progress with your backing is more palpable than ever.”
Sebastian Man shared fond memories of his time at the Institute. “The place truly broadened my perspective … and honed my intellect. It introduced me to a whole new, bold world. Everything was captivating and everything was thrilling!”
“I come from a family where my father instilled in us the importance of being thankful to those individuals and places that have contributed to shaping who we are today,” Man elaborated. “MIT fostered in me an insatiable intellectual curiosity and a passion for the unknown, and I am both honored and privileged to be associated with the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing.”