The Fred J. Hansen Summer Institute on Leadership and International Cooperation was established by San Diego State University Research Foundation because of the generosity and foresight of Fred J. Hansen.

Fred Hansen came to the United States from Denmark at the age of ten.  He settled in the San Diego area and was among those who developed the first major avocado orchards in the region. Foreign travel convinced Mr. Hansen that if adversary nations could be encouraged to work together on projects of mutual benefit, this activity could help heal their differences. Mr. Hansen designated a portion of his estate to support this conviction.