The Denton school said Monday the gift from Charn Uswochoke is intended for professorships, academic chairs, scholarships and programs for the school's music, engineering and business colleges.
Uswochoke received his graduate business degree from North Texas in 1973, went into the semiconductor business and now is a land developer in his native Thailand. He says he wanted to help the next generation have a better education "so that we all can have a better world."
School Provost Warren Burggren says some of the gift is expected to be boosted by qualifying for matching funds under the state's program to help emerging research universities.