$2.1 million grant supports engineering, business

Ford Motor Company will grant nearly $2.1 million over five years for education and research programs in the College of Engineering and the School of Business.

The contribution to the College of Engineering will provide funding for such activities as a student automotive center, automotive research, educational programs, scholarships, fellowships and student organizations.

The grant to the School of Business will support undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships and student programs, such as

“A Major Decision” – an event that helps business students learn about business-major options.

Michael Corradini, associate dean of academic affairs for the College of Engineering, says the college has enjoyed a productive research and recruiting relationship with Ford Motor Company. The grant is an example of a continuing collaboration that benefits many college activities.

“This generosity will allow the college to continue to pursue

our important areas in undergraduate and graduate education,” Corradini says. “These areas involve student activities within the classroom and the research laboratory as well as augmenting and enhancing our efforts in out-of-classroom experiences.”

The contribution is especially important to diversity programs because it is an investment that will pay dividends through the students who will be leaders in the future, says Alem Asres, engineering assistant dean of diversity affairs.

“Ford Fund’s ongoing support of diversity-focused programs and activities will help us attract students from groups that traditionally are underrepresented on engineering campuses, and enhance their educational and extracurricular opportunities,” Corradini says. “I appreciate the efforts of the Ford representatives who worked hard to strengthen the relationship between Ford and the College of Engineering and Diversity Affairs.”

James Johannes, associate dean of undergraduate programs for the School of Business, says the Ford grant will significantly benefit both the business school’s undergraduate and graduate programs.

“On the undergraduate level, this gift is going to help us recruit and retain the very best undergraduate students, which is critical to being one of the best undergraduate programs in the country,” says Johannes. “It also will help us to provide the highest quality service to our undergraduates and inform them about options for business majors early in their undergraduate careers.”

Paula Winkler Doman, Ford Motor Company’s executive sponsor for the university, says the university and Ford “have enjoyed a working partnership of the truest sense” for more than 50 years.

For more information, contact Ed Manuel, UW Foundation senior director of engineering development, 262-5251.