For Yaoping Ruan *08, Putting Princeton in His Estate Plan Honors the University‘s Impact on His Life

When Yaoping Ruan *05 came to Princeton for graduate studies in computer science in 2000 — the first time he’d ever left China — he found some challenges he didn’t expect.

For example, there was the salad. And the cheese.

“The meal plan at the Graduate College was a hard transition for me,” he said. “In most parts of China, in particular where I grew up, we don’t eat raw vegetables. And cheese did not exist.”

Ruan’s undergraduate degree was from Tsinghua University, a prestigious school in Beijing known for its engineering programs. Princeton was one of his top choices for graduate school. While the dietary changes were disconcerting, he considered himself fortunate to be at Princeton, and his experience quickly shifted from minor challenges to long-term rewards.

He lived on campus for all five years of his graduate studies, his first two in the residential Graduate College, where he enjoyed the size of the community and the opportunities for connecting with fellow students, such as cooking together or hanging out in the common room. He also felt supported academically in his closely-knit department. “I was so very grateful for all the faculty members who helped me, especially my adviser who pretty much worked with me side by side,” he said. “It was such a privilege.”

After receiving his Ph.D., he joined IBM’s T. J. Watson Research Center, where he worked until 2018 in various roles. Today, he is an independent researcher. As an alum, Ruan is an enthusiastic volunteer for Princeton, and he recently joined the 1746 Society by putting the University in his estate plan.

Ruan began giving back to the Princeton community soon after his graduation, becoming an ambassador for the Alumni Schools Committee and interviewing undergraduate applicants. “I think it is very kind for Princeton to offer all the candidates an opportunity to speak to alumni; and for alumni, it’s a wonderful opportunity to learn about the young generation.” This past year, he said, he interviewed nine students, including five from Singapore, a country he knows well through his work.

Ruan also participates in various Princeton-associated social activities, including those of the Asian American Alumni Association of Princeton, near his home in Westchester County, New York, and has served as a judge for Princeton Research Day. “I love to see the bright ideas from the undergrads,” he said.

Recently, Ruan added a new connection to Princeton: He is now *05 P28. Last year, he and his daughter, an engineering student, marched in the P-rade together.

When Ruan and his wife recently reviewed their estate plans, he contacted Princeton’s Gift Planning team to learn his options for making Princeton a part of those plans. He decided to name Princeton as a beneficiary in a retirement plan.

The process was simple. “Nowadays, for most retirement plans, it’s easy to modify your beneficiaries. You can just go online to submit the change,” he said. Letting Princeton know about the bequest is the next step. “Then you fill out a membership form for Princeton’s 1746 Society, either by mail or online.” he said.

The University has an online Bequest Fact Sheet with helpful instructions for those who are interested in making a gift to Princeton and minimizing their taxes.

Ruan also discovered through his early conversations with the Princeton team that estate planning is for all ages; he was impressed by the number of younger people who are part of the 1746 Society. “It’s never too early to have a plan,” he said.

Ruan felt it was important to include Princeton in his estate plans because of the impact his graduate experience has had on his life. “To think about how I came not just to this country, but to this particular university, life had its own way of leading me here,” he said. “In each individual’s life circle, there are just not too many individuals or entities with whom you form real connections. It’s something very rare. But it did happen to me with Princeton. Joining the 1746 Society is my way of completing the circle.”

Ruan is grateful to be part of Princeton’s culture. “How would I know,” he said, “salad and cheese are my favorite foods now.”

—Catherine Mallette ’84