Ming Li
Ming Li long ago cemented his legacy in computer science at the School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering by earning the program’s first-ever master of science degree in 1973. Now, he’s making sure his impact will be more than a note in the SICE history book.
Li and his wife Alice have generously donated to name laboratory space in Luddy Hall, the spectacular new home of SICE. Room 0006 on the lower floor of Luddy Hall has been named the Ming and Alice Li Lab.
“I just wanted to give back to the school,” Li said. “I’m very proud of my time at IU, and visiting Luddy Hall during its dedication last April brought back a lot of great memories. It created the life I have. I met my wife in Bloomington. We had our first child in Bloomington. I’m delighted I could do something to give back.”
Li has strong family ties to Indiana University. His uncle earned an undergraduate law degree from IU in the late 1940s, and at least five other relatives, including the parents of his son-in-law, earned degrees in Bloomington. His journey to IU began in the early 1970s when he was a programmer at a university in his native Hong Kong, and one of his father’s friends was the dean of the then-IU School of Business. The Department of Computer Science had just established a master’s program in computer science, and Li was encouraged to pursue the degree.
“I went to Bloomington sight unseen,” Li said. “I didn’t even know where Indiana was.”
Li remembers the computer science program being small, allowing him to develop relationships with faculty that remain strong to this day. He took classes under Professor of Computer Science Paul Purdom, who is still teaching students at SICE today, and the two remain close.
“I worked with so many great faculty members then and really got to know them,” Li said. “I’m very proud of the progress of the school.”
Li was awarded IU’s first Master of Science in Computer Science, and he went on to work at ControlData, Northern Telecomm, and Qualcomm, among other companies. His time at IU continued to make an impact long after he left Bloomington.
“The things I learned at IU really helped me understand the computing industry and how computers worked,” Li said. “IU helped me find my first job, and it has always held such a great place in my heart.”
Li encourages current SICE students to build good self-confidence by believing in themselves, and he hopes students will focus on developing a track record that shows they are dependable. His gift to the school is just another way for him to support current students and build on the legacy he helped create.
“The school gave me a lot,” Li said. “I felt like I should return something.”
The Ming and Alice Li Lab is a classroom featuring more than a dozen computers and provides learning and study space for SICE students.
“We appreciate the generous gift from the Lis,” said Raj Acharya, the dean of SICE. “Our school prides itself on being a welcoming, inclusive family, and it’s great when our distinguished alumni take the opportunity to give back to the school and provide support for our students to shape tomorrow.”
For more information about giving at SICE, visit our website.