The new annual series will bring national and international leaders in engineering and related fields to campus. The program will be pimarily geared toward UCLA Engineering students, giving them an opportunity to hear first-hand from technology leaders and innovators on what it took to get where they are, and the critical issues facing society that engineers must address.
The series was made possible by a major gift to UCLA Engineering from the Sugars, both alumni of UCLA. Each program, by invitation only, is for UCLA Engineering students, as well as faculty, staff and select alumni.
The speakers for the 2016-17 academic year include:
Nov. 28: Nick Desai, Co-Founder and CEO, Heal
Jan. 18: Ronald Sugar, Retired Chairman and CEO, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Mar. 15: Wanda Austin, Retired President and CEO, The Aerospace Corporation
Apr. 13: Ben Horowitz, Co-Founder, Andreessen Horowitz
“I met Ron and Valerie during my first few weeks here, and Ron emphasized that a school-wide distinguished speaker series could really benefit our students,” said Jayathi Murthy, the Ronald and Valerie Sugar Dean of UCLA Engineering. “They will get a first-person connection with someone leading the technology landscape and hear what’s on the horizon. And, of note this first year, three of our four speakers are alumni of the school. So in addition to hearing their insights, I hope our students also see that they too can reach the top in their chosen field.”
“As UCLA students, Valerie and I both received an invaluable educational experience that was more than our classes,” said Ron Sugar, who earned three degrees from UCLA Engineering. “Through this new distinguished speaker series, which we’re both very proud and honored to support, we hope current and future students will get a good window into what lies ahead and get an idea on how they can shape their own careers following graduation.”
Ronald and Valerie Sugar are long-time supporters of UCLA Engineering. In October 2016, the couple gave a $5 million gift to the school creating an endowment that will support the dean’s top priorities. The school’s deanship was renamed in recognition of the gift. In 2011, the Sugars gave $1 million to create an endowed faculty chair in engineering.
Ronald Sugar graduated summa cum laude in engineering in 1968 from UCLA. He received his master’s degree in 1969 and his Ph.D. in 1971 in the same field. He was an executive in the aerospace, defense and automotive industries. Most prominently, he served as the chairman of the board and CEO of Northrop Grumman Corporation from 2003 until his retirement in 2010. He is currently a director of Apple, Chevron Corporation and Amgen, and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Valerie Sugar graduated magna cum laude in history in 1971 from UCLA and earned a master’s degree in library science from USC in 1972. She held professional positions in library science and computer science at the RAND Corp. and The Aerospace Corporation. Subsequently, she has focused on family, artistic and philanthropic endeavors.