Davidson College as the Recipient of Beall Foundation - Article Example

Davidson College as the recipient of Beall Foundation.San Jose, 2nd Oct 2007Eminent business leader and the alumni of San Jose University’s Charles Davidson College, Donald Beall offered a fabulous gift of $4 million to the college. This was announced here today. Donald Beall is the former CEO of aerospace conglomerate Rockwell International. This gift is the second major donation of the year 2007. Beall gave the gift to develop the first-ever deanship of the college. The College’s Dean will now be recognized as the Don Beall Dean of Engineering in honor of the gift. And Dr. Belle W. Y. Wei is the first receipant of the Beall endowed deanshep.

She is supposed to be the first Dean of Don Beall Engineering.The gift will be used to launch the multi-disciplinary programs like green engineering, biomedical device engineering, and global experiential learning. The funds gifted by Beall will also be used to launch the initiatives for student success, their professional development and faculty excellence. While appreciating the great task of Beall, Belle Wei stated, “Donald Beall believes strongly in the value of engineering and science education and its critical role in the innovation and entrepreneurial process leading to a stronger America," She further expressed her gratitude and said, "We are grateful for this gift, which will help us advance our vision to educate new engineers who are technically excellent, broadly educated, and socially responsible, the new kind of engineers who can rise to the challenges of the 21st century.

" Being an alumni of San Jose University, Don Beall secured his bachelor degree in metallurgical engineering in 1960 and he acquired the MBA degree from the University of Pitsbergh in 1961. While talking about Beall’s overall academic performance, Ralph Parkman, one of Beall’s former professors at SJSU stated, “He was an outstanding student and a very capable young man," Parkman further said, "I'm not surprised he went as far as he did."Don Beall retired from Rockwell after spending 30 years there.

At that time he had honored many prestigious positions such as Company President, Chairman and CEO. After a long and prestigious job he retired from Rockwell in 1988.His leadership made the Rockwell a global leader in aerospace, electronics and automotive market. Apart from Rockwell Collins, Mr. Beall served as a director on the boards of various companies like Conexant System, Mindspeed Technologies, and CT Realty. He has also honoured the prestigious post of a former director of Jazz Semiconductors, Skyworks Solutions, Proctor and Gamble, Amoco, Rockwell, and Times Mirror.

Currently he is the partner in Dartbrook Partners and the chairman of Beall foundation and an overseer of the Hoover Institution at Standford University.While expressing his optimism about the young generation of America Don Beall said, “As we move ahead, in the years to come, it is going to be crucially important that America field the best educated, the most motivated, the most innovative young people that it can in order to be competitive worldwide.” In March 2007, the College of Engineering had received a gift of $15 million from Charles Davidson.

Now the College of Engineering has got the total gift of $19 million in just eight months.SJSU’s college of Engineering was ranked 16th among the national level programs. This was declared in the most recent edition of America’s best Colleges 2008 by US News and World report. Thousands of talented alumnies of this college have made a bright future in Silicon Valley and beyond. This college has a strong tie ups with many compannies in Silicon Valley which provide an opportunity for scholarships, internship, research project and placements.

Sources :1. www.mercurynews.com2. www.engr.sjsu.edu3. Spartan Daily issue date – 10/08/074. www.sjsu.edu