The William P. Clements Foundation has committed $10 million to secure the future of the Clements Center for National Security. The funding will expand opportunities for students who will serve as the next generation of national security leaders.
"As a public flagship university, we have a responsibility to serve the greatest needs of Texas and our country," said UT President Jim Davis. "The University of Texas is committed to training leaders who are equipped to shape future national security policy, and the Clements Center is positioned perfectly to serve that vital need. We are deeply grateful to Pauline Neuhoff and the Clements Foundation for their generosity, vision and dedication to educating America's future leaders."
The foundation's gift will primarily provide sustaining support for the center to grow its world-class programming and student mentorship. A portion of the gift will also support the renovation of the Flawn Academic Center auditorium, which will be named the William P. Clements, Jr. Auditorium. This facility will become the primary home for Clements Center programming while continuing to serve other student needs.
"The Clements Foundation is proud to continue our long partnership with The University of Texas at Austin as it enters a new era of leadership and excellence," said Neuhoff, president of the Clements Foundation. "Bill Clements believed deeply in the importance of public service, and we see that commitment reflected in the vision and direction of the University today. This gift reflects our confidence in UT's leadership and in the Clements Center's ability to prepare future leaders who will serve our state and our nation."
The Clements Center was founded in 2013 and is dedicated to training the next generation of national security professionals and scholars. Its programs combine rigorous academic preparation with real-world experiences, including undergraduate and graduate fellowships, internships and study abroad opportunities in Washington, D.C., London, Seoul, and the Baltics.
"Having led the Clements Center in its early years, I have seen firsthand the impact it has on students and scholars who go on to serve our nation with distinction," said William Inboden, UT's executive vice president and provost, who founded the Clements Center. "The vision and generosity of the Clements Foundation enabled this impact. This gift secures the center's future and is an investment in the young people who will shape America's national security for decades."
More than 1,000 Clements Center alumni now serve in the federal government, military, private sector and academia, shaping national security policy and practice in Washington and beyond.
The center also administers certificates and other academic programs in collaboration with several UT colleges and schools, including the College of Liberal Arts, the School of Civic Leadership, the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the McCombs School of Business. Several hundred UT students have completed its undergraduate certificate and graduate portfolio initiatives. The center reaches more than 1,000 students each year across all its programs and offerings.
"The Clements Center exists to inspire young Longhorns to serve their country with integrity and a Texas spirit only we can bring," said Joseph Maguire, executive director of the Clements Center and a retired U.S. Navy vice admiral. "Pauline Neuhoff and the Clements Foundation have my sincere gratitude. This generous gift allows us to grow our programs, expand our reach, and prepare our students not only to participate in national security policy - but to lead it."
