$10 million gift to support Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering & Technology
DALLAS & PROVO, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global technology and specialty materials company, today announced that Dave Weidman, chairman and chief executive officer of Celanese Corporation, and his wife, Rachel, have donated $10 million to establish a center for global leadership in the Brigham Young University Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering & Technology.
“Establishing this leadership center will enable BYU to develop talented engineers and technologists who can lead multi-cultural teams in a global workplace and will contribute in a meaningful and purposeful way to building tomorrow’s global business, engineering and technology leaders.”
The Weidman Center for Global Leadership will enable Brigham Young University’s College of Engineering & Technology to develop students with world-class leadership capabilities and global competencies and also support the University as an innovator in educating engineers and technologists who are able to lead in a global environment. The Weidman Center joins the ranks of recently established leadership-focused programs at other top engineering schools such as MIT, Stanford and the University of Michigan.
As the announcement was made, Mr. Weidman addressed the College on the subject of “Engineering and Technology Talent in a Global World” on the BYU campus in the de Jong Concert Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center.
“The Weidman Center for Global Leadership will help develop tomorrow’s leaders by promoting excellence in the teaching, learning and practice of leadership in a global context, thereby expanding opportunities for our students to serve others,” stated Cecil O. Samuelson, president of Brigham Young University. “We are honored by the Weidmans’ gift and their personal commitment not only to the College, but also to the students who will learn and grow into global business leaders and represent BYU worldwide.”
“In an increasingly global world, today’s engineering and technical talent must be capable of operating on a global stage, leading multi-cultural teams and creating new markets to help companies meet and satisfy customer needs,” stated Mr. Weidman. “Establishing this leadership center will enable BYU to develop talented engineers and technologists who can lead multi-cultural teams in a global workplace and will contribute in a meaningful and purposeful way to building tomorrow’s global business, engineering and technology leaders.”
The center will include student support for scholarships for international educational experiences, student learning and mentoring facilities, mentoring opportunities which promote leadership, competitions focused on design, industry leadership seminars and specific college coursework.
Additionally, the center will support faculty through grants for the funding of curriculum development in leadership and international programs, the sharing of resources for teaching leadership and global competence, financial support for piloting or developing international programs, and establishing international relationships and collaborations with academic and industrial contacts.
“Competing in a global economy and addressing the challenges facing humankind will require globally competent leaders with strong technical skills,” stated Alan Parkinson, dean of the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering & Technology. “The Weidman Center for Global Leadership has been established in the University’s Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering & Technology to address this need, in support of the College’s mission to develop men and women of faith, character and technical ability who will become outstanding leaders throughout the world.”
About Celanese
Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of specialty materials and chemical products which are used in most major industries and consumer applications. Our products, essential to everyday living, are manufactured in North America, Europe and Asia. Known for operational excellence, sustainability and premier safety performance, Celanese delivers value to customers around the globe with best-in-class technologies. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company employs approximately 7,250 employees worldwide and had 2010 net sales of $5.9 billion, with approximately 72% generated outside of North America. For more information about Celanese Corporation and its global product offerings, visit www.celanese.com.
