Generous geometry

Richard Schoen ’72 turned one of the world’s top science prizes — the World Laureates Association Prize — into a gift for the next generation of UD mathematicians.

After receiving the 2025 award for his work in geometric analysis and differential geometry, Schoen donated $200,000 of the 10 million yuan prize to the Arnold P. and Rose M. Schoen Scholarship Fund at UD, which he and his brothers — Harold Schoen ’63 and James Schoen ’67 — established for math majors with financial need.

“I’m glad to have my parents’ names associated with the scholarship,” he said. With 12 siblings, financial support was scarce. “I managed to pay my way through part-time work at UDRI, need-based government grants and a scholarship.”

Schoen credits UD’s math department with helping him find his path. Through its then-new honors program, he took graduate-level courses taught by active mathematicians. His advisor and UD professor emeritus of mathematics, Tom Gantner ’62, encouraged him to pursue top graduate programs.

“That really boosted my confidence,” Schoen said.

“[Giving back] means helping to provide today’s students with the opportunities that I had when I was a student. ... [and] enabled me to make more meaningful contributions to my favorite nonprofits, including UD.”

He went on to earn his master’s and doctorate at Stanford and later served on the faculties of Stanford and the University of California, Irvine. Even after retiring as professor emeritus at both institutions, he’s never lost sight of Dayton.

“[Giving back] means helping to provide today’s students with the opportunities that I had when I was a student,” he said. “[Winning the prize] enabled me to make more meaningful contributions to my favorite nonprofits, including UD.”

PHOTO COURTESY Richard Schoen

A version of this article appears in print in the Spring 2026 University of Dayton Magazine, Page 45. EXPLORE THE ISSUE — MORE ONLINE